Muldem automatically adjusting to system expansion and contraction

ABSTRACT

A muldem (100) has a monitor (101) for testing data path failures and standby data protective switching means (108, 109) providing alternate standby data paths in the event of a malfunction. The system accepts a maximum of fifty-six standard low speed T1 lines (1.544 Mb/s), fourteen standard intermediate speedT2 lines (6.312 Mb/s), or any combination of T1 and T2 lines to generate two standard high speed T3 lines (44.736 Mb/s). The structure allows for partial equipping of low and intermediate speed circuits by accepting any number of circuits up to the maximum capacity of the high speed circuits. The system provides automated adjustment for expansion and contraction of the system while in operation. Individual T1 and T2 signal paths may be added or removed with no disturbance to any other path. The monitor automatically adjusts to test data paths through added T1 or T2 circuits and to ignore data paths through removed T1 or T2 circuits.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides multiplexers, demultiplexers and muldemswith improved versatility, facilitating system expansion andcontraction.

In a system processing a plurality of parallel data groups beforemultiplexing and/or after demultiplexing, it is desirable to be able toadd or remove data groups without disturbing or interrupting datatraffic. The present invention affords this capability and provides asystem which automatically adjusts to expansion and contraction while inoperation, without changing the system physically or electrically.

There is also provided a monitor which tests the various data paths fordetection of malfunctions and directs the protective switching of datato an alternate, standby data path. The monitor means automaticallyadjusts to test data paths through added groups and to ignore data pathsthrough removed groups.

In a further form of the invention, each of the available parallel datagroups can have a plurality of available parallel data channels. Eachgroup carries intermediate speed data in serial form, or low speed datain parallel form over the channels. Unequipped groups are sensed by themonitor and prevented from switching to standby. Partially equippedgroups are detected by the monitor by sensing lack of data activity onone or more of the respective channels. This allows the use of anynumber of channels in a group up to the capacity of the group, andallows the use of any number of groups up to the capacity of the system,all without falsely causing a malfunction detection by the monitor or afalse switch to standby.

In a particularly desirable aspect of the invention, unused channels orgroups are merely left vacant without the need to supply a dummy datasource to simulate for the monitor an active group.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a general block diagram of a multiplexer/demultiplexer(muldem) in accordance with the invention.

FIGS. 2a and 2b form a side-by-side composite block diagram showing theinterconnection of elements of the multiplexer or transmit section ofthe muldem of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of equipment rack spaces for circuit cardmodules of the muldem of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an LBO/Switch module for use in eachintermediate speed data circuit of the muldem of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an LBO/Switch module for use in each lowspeed data group circuit of the muldem of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the transmit section of a Low SpeedInterface module for the muldem of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a Low Speed Transmit Common module for themuldem of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an Intermediate Speed Transmit Interfacemodule for the muldem of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 9a and 9b form a side-by-side composite block diagram showing theinterconnection of elements of the demultiplexer or receive section ofthe muldem of FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of an Intermediate Speed Receive Interfacemodule for the muldem of FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a Low Speed Receive Common module for themuldem of FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of the receive section of a Low SpeedInterface module for the muldem of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 13a and 13b form a side-by-side composite block diagram showingthe monitoring and comparing means of the muldem of FIG. 1 in moredetail.

FIG. 14 is a schematic circuit diagram showing the monitor selectormodule 814 and error injection of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a schematic circuit diagram showing section A of the DataComparator Interface 810 of FIG. 13.

FIG. 16 is a schematic circuit diagram showing section B of the DataComparator Interface 810 of FIG. 13.

FIG. 17 is a schematic circuit diagram showing data comparator 880 ofFIG. 13.

FIG. 18a is a block diagram of a High Speed Transmit Interface modulefor the muldem of FIG. 1. FIG. 18b is a block diagram of a High SpeedReceive Common module of the muldem of FIG. 1.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram of the transmit section of the muldem of FIG.1, illustrating a switch to a low/intermediate speed standby unit.

FIG. 20 is a block diagram of the transmit section of the muldem of FIG.1, illustrating a switch to a high speed standby unit.

FIG. 21 is a block diagram of the receive section of the muldem of FIG.1, illustrating a switch to the low/intermediate speed standby unit.

FIG. 22 is a block diagram of the receive section of the muldem of FIG.1, illustrating a switch to the high speed standby unit.

FIG. 23 is a block diagram of the transmit section of the muldem of FIG.1, illustrating a switch to the high speed standby unit after apreceding switch to the low/intermediate speed standby unit.

FIG. 24 is a block diagram of the transmit section of the muldem of FIG.1, illustrating a switch to the low/intermediate speed standby unitafter a preceding switch to the high speed standby unit.

FIG. 25 is a block diagram of the transmit section of the muldem of FIG.1, illustrating monitoring of certain data paths.

FIG. 26 is a block diagram of the receive section of the muldem of FIG.1, illustrating the monitoring of certain data paths.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT General Structure and Function (FIG.1)

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a multiplexer/demultiplexer system (or"muldem") according to the invention, indicated generally by thereference numeral 100. The upper part of the figure is devoted to themultiplexing section of the system, also referred to herein as thetransmit section. The lower part of the figure is the demultiplexing orreceive section. A monitor and switch control 101 monitors the varioussignal paths in the system for faults and automatically switches astandby unit in place of a failed unit.

There are three digital data rates of general interest in the system ofthe invention and corresponding to standard American Telephone &Telegraph Company bit rates. These are the 1.544 Mb/s rate, which is thetelephone company T1 rate and referred to herein as the low speed or LSrate. The 6.312 Mb/s or T2 rate will be called the intermediate speed orIS rate. The 44.736 Mb/s or T3 rate will be called the high speed or HSrate in this application. The invention is not limited to theseparticular rates, so the LS, IS and HS rates may assume other values.

In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1, there are two high speedlines, Line 1 and Line 2. On the multiplexing side, associated with Line1 there are a number of low speed and intermediate speed signal inputswhich are multiplexed together by units 103 and 104 and transmitted atthe high speed rate on Line 1. Similarly, a number of intermediate speedand low speed signals are multiplexed by units 105 and 106 andtransmitted at the high speed rate on Line 2. Standby Low Speed andIntermediate Speed units 108 are automatically substituted for a lowspeed or intermediate speed path which fails in units 103 or 105. Highspeed standby unit 109 is automatically substituted for units 104 or 106if one of them fails.

In the demultiplexing section of the system 100, data is received at thehigh speed rate on Line 1 and demultiplexed by units 111 and 112 into anumber of intermediate and low speed outputs. Units 113 and 114demultiplex the high speed data from Line 2 in a similar fashion. As inthe multiplexing section of the system, low speed, intermediate speedand high speed standby units are provided for automatic switching totake the place of failed elements of the system.

Each of the units 103 and 105 may contain a number of input "groups", asrepresented in the figure by the blocks LS XMT1 and IS XMT1, amongothers. In a preferred embodiment, each of the units 103 and 105 cancontain up to seven such groups. Individual input groups can remainunequipped, and in fact the whole of one of the units 103 or 105 can beunequipped.

Any one of the input groups can be a low speed group, receiving four lowspeed lines, or an intermediate speed group, receiving one intermediatespeed line. In the preferred embodiment, the equipping of a group in thedemultiplexing or receive section must be the same as the correspondinggroup in the transmit section.

The general operation of the monitor and switch control 101 is asfollows. The monitor repeatedly tests, one at a time, each of the signalpaths in the multiplexers and demultiplexers. For example, if themonitor is testing the intermediate speed path including IS XMT1 and HSXMT1, then selection circuit 119, under the control of the monitor,switches the input of intermediate speed path IS XMT1 to one input ofcompare circuit 120. Selection circuit 122, also under the control ofthe monitor, switches the output of HS XMT1 to be the input todemultiplexer 123. Demultiplexer 123 demultiplexes the high speed datafrom the transmit output of Line 1 back into the low speed andintermediate speed input formats of Line 1. Selector 125 connects thosebits corresponding to the input of IS XMT1 to the second input ofcompare circuit 120.

Compare circuit 120 adjusts for the delays expected between the directinput from select circuit 119 and the input from select circuit 125which has been multiplexed and demultiplexed. The compare circuit checksthe input to intermediate speed circuits IS XMT1 against thecorresponding portion of the demultiplexed data from the high speedoutput of Line 1, to see if there are any discrepancies between thesetwo digital signals. If the comparator 120 counts a number of errorsgreater than a selected threshold, the monitor begins procedures to moreclosely identify the source of the fault and then to switch theappropriate standby circuit LS XMT0, IS XMT0 or HS XMT0 to protect thefailed element.

Multiplexer or Transmit Section-Low/Intermediate Speed Portion (FIG. 2)

FIG. 2 shows the transmit section of the multiplexer/demultiplexersystem of the invention. Illustrative low speed and intermediate speedinput groups are shown for both Line 1 and Line 2. The low speed inputsare applied to Low Speed LBO/Switch modules, such as module 141, whichhave the capacity for four inputs or channels. The Low SpeedLBO/Switches have four main outputs and four standby outputs. AnIntermediate Speed LBO/Switch module, such as module 168, has one input,one main output and one standby output.

The numbers in parenthesis alongside various signal paths in FIG. 2 (andFIG. 9) indicate the number of data lines represented by the variouspaths.

The LBO/Switch modules have several functions. The line build-out (LBO)function is to provide a proper impedance interface between themultiplexer system and the particular input lines in an individualinstallation, as is well understood in the art. Further, these modulesswitch the input for a selected group to a standby path in the event ofa low speed or intermediate speed circuit failure. In addition, theLBO/Switch modules provide the point at which the input data is examinedby the system monitor. This is illustrated by the bus 870 labeled L1MON, and by bus 871 labeled L2 MON, in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Each of the four main outputs or channels of a Low Speed LBO/Switchmodule such as module 141 goes to one of four different Low SpeedInterface modules. In FIG. 2, up to four Low Speed Interface modules areindicated by one block such as block 142. Each of the four standbyoutput channels of all the Low Speed LBO/Switch modules goes to adifferent one of four standby Low Speed Interface modules. The fourstandby Low Speed Interface modules are represented by one block 144 inthe figure. Thus, each of the Channel 1 standby outputs of each of theLow Speed LBO/Switch modules in FIG. 2 is connected to the standby LowSpeed Interface Channel 1 module. Likewise, the standby Channel 2outputs of all the Low Speed LBO/Switch modules, both Line 1 and Line 2,are connected to the standby Low Speed Interface Channel 2 module, andso forth.

The outputs of all four Low Speed Interface modules in a particulargroup are brought to one Low Speed Transmit Common module such as module145. The Low Speed Transmit Common module multiplexes four low speedinputs to form a single intermediate speed output. This output can beswitched to either a main or standby terminal. When the standby LowSpeed Transmit Common module and standby Intermediate Speed TransmitInterface module are switched, they are switched together so that theiroutputs appear either on their main terminals or their standbyterminals. The switching signal, LS CNTL, comes from the monitor, by wayof high speed switch control 151 through low speed switch control 150.The high and low speed switch controls are simply interfaces wheremanual controls, from panel switch settings, are substituted for theusual control switching signals from the monitor. The switching of theother (than the standby units) Low Speed Transmit Common modules andIntermediate Speed Transmit Interface modules from main to standbyoutput is initiated by the monitor or manual control through the highspeed switch control 151. The outputs of all the Intermediate SpeedInterface modules and Low Speed Transmit Common modules for Line 1 (orfor Line 2) are switched to main or to standby together. This routesdata traffic through High Speed Transmit Interface module 154 or throughstandby High Speed Transmit Interface module 156, respectively.

There is considerable monitor interaction with the LBO/Switch modules.The monitor must read a transmit input or receive output from a selectedLBO/Switch module. This is indicated in FIG. 2 by the signal path forLine 1, designated L1 MON 870, and for Line 2 by L2 MON 871. The monitoralso controls the switching from main to standby of a selectedLBO/Switch. This switching signal is passed through the low speed switchcontrol 150 and is represented in FIG. 2 by bus 153. As with otherswitching, this control may also be performed manually.

The main output from each Intermediate Speed LBO/Switch goes to anIntermediate Speed Transmit Interface module such as module 147. Thestandby output from each Intermediate Speed LBO/Switch, both in Line 1and in Line 2, goes to the standby Intermediate Speed Transmit Interfacemodule 148. Each Intermediate Speed Transmit Interface module has asingle main and a single standby output, which contain data at theintermediate speed bit rate.

Physical Interchangeability of Low Speed and Intermediate Speed Modules(FIG. 3)

FIG. 3 shows how the various intermediate speed and low speed modules ofFIG. 2 can be arranged as circuit boards in an electronic equipmentrack. There are slots provided for eight LBO/Switch module cards foreach of Lines 1 and 2. Seven LBO/Switch module spaces correspond to theseven groups in each line. The eighth LBO/Switch module associated withone line is for the low speed standby equipment, while the eighthLBO/Switch module associated with the other line is for the intermediatespeed standby.Each of the LBO/Switch modules must be of the appropriateintermediate speed or low speed type, depending upon how the particulargroups are to be equipped. Any of the groups in either line which is notto be equipped does not need an LBO/Switch card. The LBO/Switch modulesare duplex, including both transmit and receive portions for theparticular group on one card.

Group 1, Line 1 is shown equipped for four low speed input channels.Thus it contains four Low Speed Interface cards. Like the LBO/Switchcards, these are duplex modules including both transmit and receiveportions. If any of the channels are not to be used, a Low SpeedInterface card need not be provided. In addition to the Interface cardsfor the equipped channels, each group must have a Low Speed TransmitCommon card (LS XMT) as discussed in connection with FIG. 2, and a LowSpeed Receive Common (LS RCV), to be described hereinafter.

The space for Group 2 of Line 1 shows the equipment for an intermediatespeed group. In this case, only the Intermediate Speed TransmitInterface (IS XMT) and Intermediate Speed Receive Interface (IS RCV) arerequired. In accordance with the interchangeability of low speed andintermediate speed groups in the present system, it would be possible toput the cards from Group 1 in the slots of Group 2 and the cards fromGroup 2 in the slots of Group 1. Thus, for example, the Low SpeedTransmit Common and the Intermediate Speed Transmit Interface must eachbe capable of plugging into the same slot. It is necessary thereforethat the Low Speed Transmit Common card take its input data frombackplane wiring that picks up the outputs of the associated Low SpeedInterface modules. The Intermediate Speed Transmit Interface card in thesame slot must take its data from a pin that comes from its associatedLBO/Switch. The outputs of the Low Speed Transmit Common andIntermediate Speed Transmit Interface are completely compatible and goto the same backplane conductors.

Multiplexer or Transmit Section--High Speed Portion (FIG. 2)

The main outputs from the Line 1 Low Speed Transmit Common andIntermediate Speed Transmit Interface modules all go to a High SpeedTransmit Interface module for Line 1, designated with reference numeral154. Connections are present for all seven groups; if any group isunequipped, the associated input to the High Speed Transmit Interfacewill simply not contain a signal. Since provision must be made for sevengroups, much of the description hereinafter will refer to seven groups,sometimes as though all groups were equipped.

The High Speed Transmit Interface 154 for Line 1 also receives at itssingle low speed standby input 155 the main output 169 of the standbyLow Speed Transmit Common module 149. It is to be emphasized that input155 is referred to as "low speed," because it comes from the standby lowspeed transmit common module 149. The data on input 155 is actually atthe intermediate speed bit rate, being four low speed channelsmultiplexed together. The main output 169 of the standby Low Speedmodule 149 also goes to the low speed standby input 161 of the HighSpeed Transmit Interface module 158 for Line 2.

At the single intermediate speed standby input 164 of the High SpeedTransmit Interface module 154 for Line 1 is the main output 170 of thestandby Intermediate Speed Transmit Interface module 148. The mainoutput 170 of the latter module also goes to the intermediate speedstandby input 171 of the Line 2 High Speed Transmit Interface module 58.

The standby High Speed Transmit Interface module 156 receives seven datalines at its main inputs, from the standby outputs of the LowSpeed/Intermediate Speed units of Line 1 or Line 2, if either of thosesets of units is switched to standby output. The low speed standby input172 to the standby High Speed Transmit Interface module 156 comes fromthe standby output 173 of the standby Low Speed Transmit Common Module149. The intermediate speed standby input 174 for the standby High SpeedTransmit Interface 156 comes from the standby output 175 of standbyIntermediate Speed Transmit Interface 148.

The High Speed Transmit Interfaces, which are all the same, are switchesfor selecting between their main and standby inputs. They are undermonitor or manual switching control, passed through the low speed switchcontrol 150. Each High Speed Transmit Interface is sent three principalpieces of control information. It is instructed whether to look only toits seven main inputs or whether instead to substitute for one of themain inputs one of its standby inputs. If it is to substitute a standbyinput, it must be sent a group code specifying which main input is to bereplaced. The third piece of information chooses one of the two standbyinputs from which to take the standby information. The output of eachHigh Speed Transmit Interface module comprises seven data lines, eitherall taken from its main inputs or with a selected one of the sevenoutputs taken from one of its standby inputs.

The seven outputs of each High Speed Transmit Interface form inputs toan associated High Speed Transmit Common module, such as module 157. TheHigh Speed Transmit Common modules are multiplexers of conventionaldesign, which multiplex seven intermediate speed inputs together onto asingle output line at the high speed bit rate.

The output of each High Speed Transmit Common module goes to anassociated DS-3 Interface. The DS-3 Interface performs conventional B3ZSconversion and conversion to bipolar form. Each DS-3 Interface, such asInterface 159, provides an output 872 to the monitor. The main output162 can be switched on or off in response to a manual or monitor controlsignal 163 passed through the high speed switch control 151. The mainoutputs 162 from Line 1 are provided to a conventional hybrid combinerunit 166 along with the main output 165 from the standby DS-3 Interfaceto derive the resultant Line 1 high speed transmit output. The output ofthe main DS-3 Interface for Line 2 also goes to a hybrid unit 167 alongwith the output of the standby DS-3 Interface, to form the Line 2output.

Intermediate Speed LBO/Switch (FIG. 4)

FIG. 4 shows details of an Intermediate Speed LBO/Switch like LBO/Switch168 in FIG. 2. The LBO/Switch circuit card is a duplex module, includingboth a transmit part discussed generally in connection with FIG. 2 and areceive part. The data input to the system on the transmit side isapplied to a line build out (LBO) network 180 as is well understood inthe art. The output of the LBO network is split by a pad splitter 181into main and standby outputs. The main output is connected to theIntermediate Speed Transmit Interface of the same group, while a relay183 determines whether the standby output is activated and connected tothe standby Intermediate Speed Transmit Interface 148 (FIG. 2). Atransformer isolator 184 taps off the signal from one of the outputs ofpad splitter 181 and applies it to monitor data select circuit 186. Onthe receive side, data arrives at the main input from an IntermediateSpeed Receive Interface such as Interface 187 in FIG. 9. The standbyinput to the LBO/Switch comes from the standby Intermediate SpeedReceive Interface 189 (FIG. 9). A relay 190 determines whether the mainor standby data is supplied through LBO circuit 192 to the output of thesystem. Regardless of the action of relay 190, data is taken from themain receive input by a transformer isolator 193 to monitor data select186.

The switching of relays 183 and 190 is controlled by signals from themonitor through the low speed switch control at transmit relay driver195 and receiver relay driver 196. When both the LBO Group Enable bitand Line Select bit to transmit relay driver 195 indicate that this lineand group should switch, then relay 183 is thrown to the standbyposition. Since the receive relay driver 196 also receives these controlinputs, it will switch to standby under the same circumstances, so longas the Receive Switch Inhibit bit does not direct the driver 196 not toswitch.

Decode network 198 receives control bits from the monitor which indicatewhether this particular LBO/Switch is to send data onto the monitor busfor the monitor to read. The Channel Select bits 869 to decode circuit198 are relevant to a Low Speed LBO/Switch but not this intermediatespeed unit in FIG. 4. The Transmit/Receive Select bit indicates whetherit is the input from transformer isolator 184 or from transformerisolator 193 which is to be sent to the monitor. The Group Enable bitfrom the monitor signals that this particular group LBO/Switch is tosend data to the monitor. The selected data, which is in bipolar form,is sent by way of driver 199 to the monitor on the respective monitorbus 870 or 871.

Also sent to the monitor, if this particular group is enabled, is a pairof identity bits 879, as indicated by circuit 201. The identity bitcircuit provides two bits of preselected values, which are gated by theGroup Enable signal to the monitor bus. If the LBO/Switch is anintermediate speed module, then the first ID bit is zero and the secondID bit is one. For a Low Speed LBO/Switch, the first bit is one and thesecond bit is zero. Through this means, the monitor can determinewhether a particular group is equipped for intermediate speed or lowspeed operation.

Low Speed LBO Switch (FIG. 5)

The Low Speed LBO/Switch of FIG. 5 is the same in most respects as theIntermediate Speed LBO/Switch of the preceding figure, except that ithas four data channels instead of one. Other differences are as follows.The transformer isolators on the transmit side, such as isolator 210,are located in the signal path before the pad splitters. There is norequirement for an LBO network in the transmit path, such as LBO network180 in FIG. 4. There are four relays on the transmit side, one for eachchannel, and all are activated or deactivated together by the transmitrelay driver 211. Similarly, on the receive side four relays areactivated together by a receive relay driver. Equalizer pads such as pad213 perform a function similar to line build-out circuit 192 of FIG. 4,as is well understood in the art.

In the circuitry for selecting data to be sent to the monitor, the twoChannel Select bits 869 into decode circuit 214 have importance in theLow Speed LBO/Switch. If the group for this particular LBO/Switch isselected, as indicated by the state of the Group Enable bit, then theXMT/RCV select bit determines whether the four transmit decode outputs216 or the four receive decode outputs 217 are activated. Then the valueof the two Channel Select bits 869 determines which of the four outputsin group 216 or in group 217 goes to an enable state. The one which doesgo to this state determines which of the four transmit or four receivedata inputs to select circuit 219 is switched to the output 220 of thatcircuit. This data is sent onto the respective monitor bus 870 or 871,along with the enabled identity bits 877, as in the Intermediate SpeedLBO/Switch.

Low Speed Interface and Low Speed Transmit Common (FIGS. 6 and 7)

For each low speed channel in multiplexer/demultiplexer 100, there isone Low Speed Interface module. The transmit portion of the Low SpeedInterface is shown in FIG. 6. For each group of low speed channels inthe multiplexer/demultiplexer, there is one Low Speed Transmit Commonmodule, as shown in FIG. 7. Since there can be as many as four channelsper low speed group, there can be as many as four of the Interfacemodules connected to each Low Speed Transmit Common module.

The input data to the Low Speed Interface is one channel of bipolarinput data which has come through the associated LBO/Switch. For most ofthe Low Speed Interfaces, the input data is taken from the main outputof an LBO/Switch; the data input of the standby Low Speed Interface isconnected to the standby outputs of all the Low Speed LBO/Switches. Thedata received by the Low Speed Interfaces is in bipolar form and must beconverted to NRZ data by converter 230, as is well understood in theart.

A major function of the Low Speed Interface is to synchronize the databits input to the system with the clock that is going to be used in themultiplexing of the data, known hereinafter as the transmit clock. As afirst step in this process, a clock is obtained from the input data byclock recovery circuit 231 which can be a conventional phase-locked loopclock recovery circuit. The clock recovered from the data is used toenter the data into a register 233 and to form the input to a writeaddress counter 234. The write address counter increments a three bitinput to register 233 causing the input data to be written in successiveaddresses of the register. A read address counter 236 receives as itsinput the transmit clock from the associated Low Speed Transmit Commonmodule. The output of the read address counter increments in the sameway as the counter 234, sequentially reading the data previously writtenin the register, but at times which are dictated by the transmit clock.The data read from register 233 is output to the associated Low SpeedTransmit Common module.

The transmit clock is routed to the Low Speed Transmit Common module anddistributed to the appropriate Low Speed Interfaces. The Low SpeedTransmit Common module (FIG. 7) receives the transmit clock at selectcircuit 237 from the associated main high speed unit and standby highspeed unit. The select circuit is directed by the same Switch Controlsignal 239 which signals whether the data from the Low Speed TransmitCommon module is to go to its associated main High Speed TransmitInterface or to the standby High Speed Transmit Interface 156. TheSwitch Control signal 239, comes from the monitor or a manual switchthrough one of the switch control units 150 or 151. In accordance withthe Switch Control signal 239, selector circuit 237 switches to thetransmit clock from the main or standby high speed unit, and thisbecomes the transmit clock for this Low Speed Transmit Common group.

In a preferred embodiment, the high speed portion of themultiplexer/demultiplexer uses ECL logic, while the low speed andintermediate speed portion uses TTL logic. Accordingly, select circuit237 receives an ECL compatible signal and outputs a TTL compatiblesignal. An example of such an ECL/TTL conversion in a main/standbyselect circuit is shown and described hereinafter in FIG. 10.

The output of select circuit 237 in FIG. 7, "IS XMT CLOCK" is requiredby many of the components in the figure, but in particular is shown atthe top of the figure as an important input to the counters 241, 242 and243. These counters, along with a major frame decoder, bit locationdecoder, C bit decode, overhead bit multiplexer and clock select circuit245 are all involved in the activity of multiplexing together the fourinput channels to the Low Speed Transmit Common module and insertingoverhead and framing bits in the multiplexed stream. Not all of thesecircuits and functions will be described in detail, since themultiplexing of the low speed channels and the insertion of framinginformation is well known in the art.

Clock select 245 receives inputs from the group of circuits performingthe multiplexing and framing functions, as well as the intermediatespeed transmit clock. Clock select 245 then outputs four low speedtransmit clocks, one to each of the associated Low Speed Interfacemodules. It will be understood that the clock pulses can occur atstaggered times on the different output channels of clock select 245 inorder to facilitate the multiplexing of data on the channels.

Thus, in FIG. 6, the transmit clock is one of the outputs from clockselect circuit 245 in FIG. 7. The rate of this transmit clock issomewhat higher than the rate of the clock from clock recovery circuit231. As a result, data will be read from register 233 faster than it iswritten, and the register will tend to deplete. However, when theregister becomes less than one-half full, stuff request circuit 246generates a request which causes the Low Speed Transmit Common Module todelete one pulse in the transmit clock to this Low Speed Interface. Thisallows the writing to jump ahead, so that the register 233 becomesgreater than one-half full. The stuff requests are generated byconnecting the most significant bit of the read address counter 236 tothe clock input of flip-flop 248, while connecting the most significantbit of the write address counter 234 to the J input of the flip-flop.

The stuff request acts in the Low Speed Transmit Common module of FIG. 7through a C Bit Decode circuit 247, which has an input to the clockselect circuit 245. The C Bit Decode circuit commands the overhead bitmultiplexer of the Low Speed Transmit Common module to insert a "stuff"bit in the data stream of the particular channel involved. As a result,there will be a data bit for each pulse of the transmit clock.

In a particular embodiment, a line monitor circuit 249, including aretriggerable one-shot 251 and an exclusive-OR gate 252 detects when thedata in the channel comprises a long string of zeros. When this isdetected, the line monitor gates a Stuff Time clock of 1,789 Hz throughgates 54 and 55 to produce a train of stuff requests. This outputenables the Low Speed Transmit Common module to generate all logic 1'sat the nominal low speed rate, in place of all the logic 0's detected bythe line monitor.

The Low Speed Transmit Common module (FIG. 7) receives the data from theLow Speed Interfaces through line receivers and inverters 254. From thereceivers and inverters 254 the data is input to a data multiplexer 255.Multiplexer 255 multiplexes data from channels 1-4, along with framingbits and stuff bits from overhead bit multiplexer 250, to form anintermediate speed output. The multiplexed data is passed through aretime flip-flop 257 to data select switch 258. There the Switch Controlsignal 239 sends the output of the Low Speed Transmit Common moduleeither to the associated main High Speed Transmit Interface module154/158 or to the standby High Speed Transmit Interface module 156, FIG.2. Preferably data select switch 258 uses ECL gates for compatibilitywith the logic of the high speed modules.

There is a requirement for further insertion of stuff bits in the datastream by the High Speed Transmit Common module when it multiplexes theseven data groups together. In the Low Speed Transmit Common module thisis handled simply by bringing in a Stuff Time signal from the high speedunits to an inhibit/enable circuit 260, which is under the control ofSwitch Control signal 239. In the Intermediate Speed Transmit Interfaceto be discussed below, a stuff request will be generated in an elasticstore circuit and sent to the appropriate high speed unit.

Intermediate Speed Transmit Interface (FIG. 8)

FIG. 8 shows a block diagram of an Intermediate Speed Transmit Interfacemodule such as module 147 of FIG. 2. There are many points of similaritybetween the Intermediate Speed Trasmit Interface on the one hand and thecombination of the Low Speed Interface (FIG. 6) and Low Speed Commonmodule (FIG. 7) on the other. A bipolar receiver 270 receives the inputdata from the main output of an associated Intermediate LBO/Switchmodule. A B6ZS decoder receives the data from the bipolar receiver andperforms a formatting function peculiar to intermediate speed datatransmission, which is well understood in the art.

A clock recovery circuit 271 recovers a bit sync clock from the datafrom the bipolar receiver 270. The transmit clock is selected from themain or standby high speed transmit unit at clock select switch 274 bythe Switch Control signal 275. The clock from clock recovery circuit 271becomes the write clock to an elastic store circuit 277, while theselected transmit clock becomes the read clock thereof.

The elastic store circuit 277, line monitor 278 and stuff requestcircuit 280 function as discussed in connection with FIG. 6. The StuffTime clock supplied to stuff request circuit 280 is selected between themain and standby sources by select switch 281 under the control ofSwitch Control signal 275.

The buffered data from elastic store 277, now synchronized with thetransmit clock, is applied to data select switch 283, while the stuffrequest from circuit 280 is applied to stuff select switch 284. Theseswitches under the control of the Switch Control signal 275 send thedata and stuff request to the selected main or standby high speedtransmit unit. The switches 283 and 284 are implemented using ECL gatesto be compatible with the logic of the high speed units.

The Intermediate Speed Transmit Interface module of FIG. 8 differs fromthe low speed modules of FIGS. 6 and 7 mainly in that there is no needto multiplex multiple channels together. Further, as a consequence,there is no requirement for the insertion of overhead bits into the datastream. Accordingly, much of the circuitry in FIG. 7 is not present inFIG. 8.

In order to obtain the result that a low speed group can be substitutedfor an intermediate speed group, a number of the inputs and outputs ofthe two groups must be identical circuit card connector pins. On theinput side, the transmit clock and Stuff Time from main and standby highspeed sources are the same in the intermediate speed modules and the lowspeed modules.

On output, the data and stuff requests directed to the main and standbyhigh speed transmit units are pin-for-pin compatible between the LowSpeed Transmit Common module (FIG. 7) and the Intermediate SpeedTransmit Interface (FIG. 8). All of these outputs are compatible withthe ECL logic of the high speed units.

Receive or Demultiplexer Section (FIG. 9)

The high speed input to Line 1 of the receive section is to hybrid unit166. From the hybrid unit, the high speed signal goes to the Line 1 DS-3Interface 159 and to the standby DS-3 Interface. In addition, there is areceive monitor point 875 at the hybrid. The Line 2 high speed unitmakes the same kinds of connections through its hybrid unit.

From the DS-3 Interface such as interface 159, the high speed signalgoes to an associated High Speed Receive Common module, such as module302. Each High Speed Receive Common module demultiplexes its high speedinput into seven intermediate speed outputs. These modules, such asmodule 302, have seven main outputs and one standby output. Theseoutputs are under the control of a monitor or manual signal which ispassed through the low speed switch control 150. If the High SpeedReceive Common module is appropriately signaled, it turns on its standbyoutput and sends on the standby output one of the seven intermediatespeed signals which are on its main outputs. As a part of the controlsignal to the module, there is included a group code which specifieswhich one of the signals is to appear on the standby output. A syncalarm is available from each High Speed Receive Common module, so thatthe monitor can determine when one of these modules is not able tosynchronize with the high speed data coming in on its input.

The seven main outputs of High Speed Receive Common module 302 of Line 1each go to a different one of the low/intermediate speed groups inLine 1. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the first main output of HighSpeed Receive Common module 302 goes to the main input of Low SpeedReceive Common module 304. The second main output from High Speed module302 goes to the main input of Intermediate Speed Interface module 187.

The standby outputs of the High Speed Receive Common modules from bothlines 1 and 2 go to the main input of standby Low Speed Receive Commonmodule 305.

The standby High Speed Receive Common module 306 sends its seven mainoutputs to the standby inputs of the seven groups of Line 1 and also ofLine 2. The single standby output 310 of the standby High Speed ReceiveCommon module 306 goes to the standby inputs 308 and 309 of the standbyLow Speed Receive Common module 305 and standby Intermediate SpeedReceive Interface module 189.

The Low Speed Receive Common and Intermediate Speed Receive Interfacemodules of Line 1 are under the control of a switching signal whichpasses through the high speed switch control 151 from the monitor ormanual panel switches. Switching signal 307 causes all of theselow/intermediate speed units to switch together to their main inputs orto their standby inputs. The switching signal 311 for all the comparablelow/intermediate speed Line 2 modules also comes through the high speedswitch control. Both the standby Low Speed Receive Common module 305 andstandby Intermediate Speed Receive Interface 189 are switched to theirmain or standby inputs by a switching signal 313 which passes throughthe low speed switch control.

Each of the Low Speed Receive Common modules such as module 304 feeds upto four Low Speed Interface modules. In FIG. 9, four Low Speed Interfacemodules are represented by one block, such as block 142.

The LBO/Switch modules for the multiplexer/demultiplexer system includetransmit and receive portions. The transmit portions are illustrated inFIG. 2, while the receive portions are shown in FIG. 9. Each of the lowspeed LBO/Switch modules has four main and four standby inputs. The fourmain inputs come from the associated Low Speed Interfaces. For all theLow Speed LBO/Switches in the system, the Channel 1 standby input comesfrom the Channel 1 standby Low Speed Interface, while the Channel 2standby input comes from the Channel 2 Low Speed Interface, and so on.

Each of the Intermediate Speed LBO/Switch modules receives its maininput from the Intermediate Speed Receive Interface of the group. Forevery Intermediate Speed LBO/Switch in the system, the single standbyinput comes from the standby Intermediate Speed Receive Interface 189.

The lines marked L1 MON 870 and L2 MON 871 are intended to indicate thatthe individual outputs of the LBO/Switch modules are read by themonitor. Moreover, each of the LBO/Switch modules can be individuallycommanded to switch either to its main or standby inputs. This isrepresented in FIG. 9 by switching signals 153 coming through the lowspeed switch control. For a Low Speed LBO/Switch module, all fourchannels switch together to main or standby.

Intermediate Speed Receive Interface (FIG. 10)

At the inputs of the Intermediate Speed Receive Interface in FIG. 10,the module must first select the data and the clock from either the mainor the standby high speed receive unit. This is performed by selectcircuits 322 and 323 under the control of Switch Control signal 320.Select circuit 322 has been expanded in detail to illustrate aconversion necessary to interface ECL logic of the high speed units withTTL logic in the low/intermediate speed section of the system. This isdone simply by bringing the main and standby data signals to the inputsof ECL AND gates 325 and 326, then applying the wired-OR output of thegates to a transistor logic circuit 328.

The data output of select circuit 322 is applied through a retimeflip-flop 330 to an output smoothing buffer 331. In the receive sectionof the multiplexer/demultiplexer, there is not a requirement in thelow/intermediate speed portion of the system to synchronize the datawith the high speed clock. In the receive section, the data has beensynchronized with the high speed clock as it was received in the highspeed portion of the system. The requirement for an elastic or smoothingbuffer arises from the fact that the high speed portion of the receivesection has removed stuffing bits that it found in the incoming highspeed data stream. This causes gaps in the intermediate speed data toboth the intermediate speed and low speed groups. Therefore, it isnecessary to readjust the data in time so that the bits of the datastream occur at a regular interval.

As a first step in the operation of the smoothing buffer 331, thedestuffed data is written into a register 333. One of the bits of awrite address counter used to enter the data in the register is taken toform one input 334 of a phase-locked loop 336. The phase-locked loopdrives a read address counter 337 which causes the data in the registerto appear at its output 339. A bit from the read address is taken backto the phase detector of the phase-locked loop 336. The result is thatthe data bits are read into and out of the register 333 at the sameoverall rate, but phase-locked loop 336 causes the bits in the output ofthe register to occur at a regular interval.

The output of the smoothing buffer 331 goes to a B6ZS encoder circuitwhich replaces a short string of zero data bits with a special code asis well-known in the art. A bipolar driver and transformer 340 convertsthe B6ZS encoded signal to bipolar form and send it to the associatedLBO/Switch module.

Low Speed Receive Common (FIG. 11) and Low Speed Interface-ReceivePortion (FIG. 12)

The Low Speed Receive Common module shown in FIG. 11 has select circuits350 and 351 subject to a Switch Control signal to choose between theclock and data from the main high speed receive unit or the standby highspeed receive unit, just as in the Intermediate Speed Receive Interface.The selected data is sent through a retime flip-flop 353 and out to thefour associated Low Speed Interface modules. The remainder of thecircuits in FIG. 11 carry out the conventional process of examining theoverhead bits in the data stream to generate four clocks which willpermit demultiplexing the intermediate speed data into four low speedchannels, with overhead bits removed. Each of the four resulting clocksforms an output going to a different one of the four possible Low SpeedInterface modules (FIG. 12) associated with the Low Speed Receive Commonmodule

In FIG. 12, the Low Speed Interface module is seen to receive from itsLow Speed Receive Common module both the intermediate speed data and theappropriate one of the receive clocks. As with the Intermediate SpeedReceive Interface (FIG. 10) there is a need for an output smoothingbuffer 354. This is because stuff bits and other overhead bits areremoved from the data stream, which must then be adjusted so that thebits occur at regular intervals. The receive clock 360 into the LowSpeed Interface will have pulses only when there is data on the datainput, and not when an overhead bit is occurring. As a result, only databits are clocked into register 361 by the receive clock, and only thedata bits for one channel. The clock which drives the register and thewrite address counter 363 is also input to the phase detector of asmoothing phase-locked loop 364. The other input to the phase-lockedloop is from a bit of the read address counter 366 of smoothing buffer354, as in the Intermediate Speed Receive Interface. Due to the actionof the phase-locked loop, data appears at the output 367 of register 361at a regular frequency. A bipolar driver 369 and line transformer 370place the data in condition for input to the associated LBO/Switch.

It is an aspect of the interchangeability of the Intermediate SpeedReceive Interface (FIG. 10) and the Low Speed Receive Common module(FIG. 11) that they receive the same type of intermediate speed data andclock connections from the main and standby High Speed Receive sections.In addition, they must each receive the Switch Control signal to makethe main and standby selection.

Monitoring and Comparing Means, FIGS. 13a and 13b:

The monitor and switch control means 101, including comparator 120, FIG.1, is shown in more detail in FIGS. 13a and 13b, which are a side toside composite. Monitor 800 is connected by data bus 802 to controlinterface 804 for controlling monitoring and comparing circuitrygenerally designated 806.

As seen in FIG. 1, monitor and switch control means 101 has a firstinput side 808 connected in parallel with the inputs to the low andintermediate speed transmitters of each line and in parallel with theoutputs of the low and intermediate speed receivers of each line. Asshown in FIGS. 13a and 13b, this first input side 808 of the monitor isthrough data ports in a data comparator interface or select module 810.The inputs to data ports 808 are through the Line 1 and Line 2 LBOmonitor buses 870 and 871, respectively, FIGS. 1, 2a, 9a, 4 and 5. Thedata at ports 808 is either low speed T1 rate data (1.544 Mb/s) orintermediate speed T2 rate data (6.312 Mb/s).

As seen in FIG. 1, monitor and switch control means 101 has a secondinput side 812 connected to the outputs of the high speed and standbytransmitters and the inputs of the high speed and standby receivers. Aseparate connection from the input to the standby high speed receiver isnot needed because the data to the standby high speed receiver musttravel through either Line 1 or Line 2, as seen in FIG. 1. There arethus five inputs 872, 873, 874, 875 and 876 to the second input side 812of the monitor, FIGS. 1, 2b, 9b and 13a. This side 812 is through dataports in a selector module 814, FIG. 13a.

The monitor chooses one of the five data entry ports in selector module814, FIG. 13a, in accordance with a three bit selection code onconnection 816 from control interface 804. Selector module 814 extractsor recovers clock information from the input high speed or T3 rate (44.7Mb/s) data and delivers a data signal 818 and a clock signal 820 (at44.7 MHz) to a first monitor demultiplexer 822 which demultiplexes thehigh speed data. A feedback line 824 is provided from the selector 814and demultiplexer 822 to the control interface 804 for carrying a signalindicating the state of high speed monitor synchronization.

Demultiplexer 822 demultiplexes the high speed input data into sevengroups of intermediate speed or T2 rate data. Three bit control line 826selects one of the seven intermediate speed groups, and thedemultiplexer delivers a data signal 828 and an intermediate speed or T2rate clock signal 830 for the selected group. The three bit selectioncode on control line 826 is also sent via connection 827, FIG. 13a, tothe low speed switch control as shown at 827 in FIGS. 2b and 9b.

Data comparator interface or selector module 810 receives theintermediate speed data and clock on signal lines 828 and 830 anddelivers these signals directly to the data A and clock A outputs or tooutput lines 834 and 832 which in turn deliver the signals to a secondmonitor demultiplexer 836 for further demultiplexing of the clock signalto the low speed or T1 rate over four channels. Another set ofintermediate speed data and clock signals are delivered to selectormodule 810 on lines 838 and 840 from the High Speed Transmit Interfacemodules for Line 1, standby and Line 2, as shown by the monitor tap-offat 838, 840 in FIG. 2b. These signals are tapped off the Interfacesmodules before multiplexing, whereby to deliver intermediate speed dataand clock signals on lines 838 and 840. These signals are deliveredthrough selector module 810 directly to the data A and clock A outputsor to output lines 844 and 842 which carry the signals to low speedmonitor demultiplexer 836. The two sets of intermediate speed dataavailable to demultiplexer 836 are thus derived from different data pathconfigurations through the system to, enhance testing flexibility.Control line 846 selects which set of intermediate speed data is to beprocessed through demultiplexer 836.

Demultiplexer 836 demultiplexes the clock signals from the chosenintermediate speed input. Demultiplexer 836 outputs the demultiplexedLow Speed clock signals over four channel on signal lines 848, 850, 852and 854 to selector module 810. Data for the four channels is deliveredon signal line 856 to selector module 810 for later selectively clockedextraction of the desired channel of data, i.e. the data stream on 856is gated with one of the four channel clocks to pick off the desiredchannel of data. Feedback signal line 866 carries another signalindicating the state of monitor synchronization. Demultiplexer 836 iscomparable to the Low Speed Receive Common module of FIG. 11.

A three bit selection control 868 chooses one of six available sets ofdata and clock signals for delivery as data A and clock A (twointermediate speed sets: (a) 838, 840; (b) 828, 830; and four low speedsets: (c) 856, 848; (d) 856, 850; (e) 856, 852; and (f) 856, 854). Thechosen data and clock set is delivered from section A of Data ComparatorInterface or Selector module 810 to data comparator 880, FIG. 13b.

Selector module 810 has a section B which delivers a data B and clock Boutput to Data Comparator 880. Data B and clock B are derived from inputport 808. Port 808 receives signals from the Line 1 monitor but 870 andfrom the Line 2 monitor bus 871. Single bit selection control 878 toselector module 810 chooses 870 or 871 at entry port 808. The data atport 808 is either low or intermediate speed, either of which isaccepted by selector Module 810 and output as data and clock B. Theidentification bits 877, FIG. 5, and 879, FIG. 4, of the low andintermediate speed LBO/Switches, respectively, provide the speedselection part of control 868 to provide corresponding low orintermediate speed data clock A. Also, two of the bits of control 868are sent via connection 869 to decoder 198, FIG. 4, of the IntermediateSpeed LBO/Switch for channel selection; these two bits are also sent todecoder 214, of FIG. 5, of the Low Speed LBO/Switch for channelselection.

Data A and clock A and data B and clock B are input to a data comparator880 for a bit-error-rate test. A three bit delay control connection 882is provided for controlling a delay element to delay data stream B whena transmit path is being monitored. When testing a data path through thetransmit side of the muldem, FIG. 1, data stream A has gone throughmultiplexing by the transmit side of the muldem and demultiplexing bythe monitor which takes time, typically five or six time bits in thecurrent system, and hence data stream B must be delayed to bring the twodata streams into sync. Three bits of delay control has been foundsufficient and affords eight selectable incremental delays. In one form,it has been found desirable to also provide a delay, which may be fixed,in data stream A. When testing a data path through the receive side ofthe muldem, data stream A has been demultiplexed by the monitor and datastream B has been demultiplexed by the receive side of the muldem, whichmay or may not take the same time. If demultiplexing by the monitortakes the shorter time, then data stream A will lead data stream B. Toprevent this, data stream A is delayed to lag data stream B, and theselectable delay in data stream B then brings the streams into roughsynchronization. Line 884 resets the data comparator and line 886carries a comparator synchronization status signal.

Four bit error counting bus 888 registers noncoincidences ofcorresponding bits between data streams A and B. Lines 890 and 892provide flag signals for lack of data activity in streams A and B,respectively. In the current system, a string of sixty-three consecutivezeros has been found statistically probable of lack of data activity andis used as the flag point.

Data streams A and B are compared bit for bit. After syncing, monitor800 opens a short sampling time interval window and recognizes or countserrors therein. If the number of errors exceeds a given threshold, thenthe sampling time interval is expanded, in one preferred form by afactor of 10, and a re-test is performed and the same increased factorof errors is looked for. This long test provides improved statisticalaccuracy of a bit-error-rate determination. The short test enables quicksequential testing of a plurality of data paths.

The monitor and compare circuit 806 is self-tested by injection oferrors in one of the compared data streams. Bit errors are injected atthe second monitor input side 812, FIG. 1. Referring more particularlyto FIG. 13a, a self-test signal on line 894 triggers error injection byModule 814 for processing through the monitor. This alters data stream Afor comparison against data stream B. The introduction of errors ispreferably accomplished by bit inversion. If these errors are notreflected in the comparison, then there is a probable monitormalfunction.

A manual control user interface 858 is provided and includes a pluralityof selection switches for choosing transmit or receive line, group andchannel, and a plurality of switches for controlling various monitorand/or muldem functions. Manual override switch 859 interrupts theautomatic sequential testing of data signal paths by the monitor andlocks the monitor to a selected signal path through the muldem tofacilitate analysis of such path and its associated high speed and lowor intermediate speed transmitter or receiver means prior to placingsuch path in service, as more fully described hereinafter. Manual lockout switch 860 prevents a selected data path through the muldem fromswitching to standby. Auto-revert switch 861 controls whether datatraffic switched to standby is permitted to automatically revert back toits normally on-line main data path configuration upon correction of themalfunction in the normally on-line main path, or whether manualpermission is also required for such reversion in addition to correctionof the malfunction. Switch/restore switch 862 provides manual switchingto and from standby of a selected transmit or receive line, group andchannel. User control of the monitor and muldem is preferablyaccomplished through iterfaces such as 858 by means of dedicatedswitches for user convenience, though of course other means may be used,such as keyboard entry or the like providing manual interaction with thesystem. One or more displays such as 863 are provided for the variousindications afforded, including error indication, and a latched displayof a failure condition even after the failure or malfunction has beencorrected and the standby data path automatically switched back to itsmain normally on-line configuration when the system is in theauto-revert mode.

Monitor Selector Module 814 and Error Injection, FIG. 14

The monitor selector module 814 of FIG. 13a is further illustrated inFIG. 14, including error injection. A data selector 902 chooses one ofthe inputs from lines 872-876 in accordance with the selection code onconnection 816 for output on line 904. The output data on 904 is passedthrough a clock recovery circuit 906.

In one form, the clock signal is extracted by charging a frequencyadjustable tank circuit 908 having inductance 910 and capacitance 912with current from a transistor 914 during the time ones are beingreceived on input 916. The energy stored in the tank oscillates and isrepresentative of the clock signal. These oscillations may be convertedto a different or appropriate logic level if desired. For example,amplifier means 918, with its associated resistance and capacitancenetwork 920, converts the oscillations to ECL levels. The output of theclock recovery circuit 906 is delivered via connection 820 to themonitor receiver and demultiplexer 822, FIG. 13a.

An error generator circuit 922 is initiated by the input from theself-test error injection signal line 894, FIG. 13a. The error generatorcircuit 922 includes a free running gated oscillator 924 and a pair oftoggled flip-flops 926 and 928. When the gated input on 894 is a logiczero, a logic zero is obtained on the output 930 of free running gatedoscillator 924. When the gated input is a logic one, a square waveoutput is obtained on 930. The output toggles flip-flops 926 and 928,producing a one bit output pulse on line 932 synchronous with the systemclock by means of AND gate 934 having one of its inputs connected vialine 936 to the extracted clock signal on 820 at the output of the clockrecovery circuit 906.

The output of the error generator circuit 922 and the output of the dataselector 902 are delivered by connections 932 and 904 through anexclusive OR gate 938. The resulting data bits on output 818 of thisgate are the inversion of the data stream on 904 and thus erroneous. Theinjected errors now appearing on 818 are delivered to the monitorreceiver and demultiplexer 822, FIG. 13a.

Section A of Data Comparator Interface 810, FIG. 15

The section of the data comparator interface 810, FIG. 13b, whichprovides data A and clock A is shown in greater detail in FIG. 15.Section A receives one set of low speed inputs and another set ofintermediate speed inputs. The low speed set includes four low speedclock signals at 1.544 MHz on lines 848, 850, 852 and 854 (channel 1clock through channel 4 clock) and a data signal on line 856 containingfour multiplexed 1.544 Mb/s data streams plus various overhead and stuffbits. The intermediate speed input set includes data streams on lines828 and 838, each paired with a 6.312 MHz clock, on lines 830 and 840,respectively. The low speed inputs are from monitor receiver 836, FIG.13a; the intermediate speed inputs on 828 and 830 are from monitordemultiplexer 822, FIG. 13A; and the intermediate speed inputs on 838and 840 are from the High Speed Transmit Interfaces for Line 1, Line 2and standby, FIG. 2b.

A Selector module 940 chooses one of the six clock inputs according tothe selection code from control 868. The selected clock signal is outputon 942. A data selector 944 has three data inputs at 946 from lines 856,828 and 838, each carrying 6.312 Mb/s data streams. Two of the selectionbits from control 868 determine which of these three data streams ispassed through to output 948.

If the selection code on control 868 chooses clock signals from line 830or 840 in clock selector 940, then this selection code will likewisechoose data from line 828 or 838, respectively, in data selector 944 tobe output on 948. If clock selector 940 chooses one of the four lowspeed clocks on 848, 850, 852 or 854 to be output on 942 in accordancewith the selection code from 868, then such code chooses input data from856 in data selector 944 to be output on 948.

In preferred form, selector 944 includes a clock select portion 950 inaddition to data select portion 946. This provides for the selection ofa delayed or a nondelayed clock signal from selector 940. The timingrelationship between low speed clock signals and multiplexed data online 856 may make it desirable to delay the clock, in the current systemby approximately 100 nanoseconds, prior to demultiplexing the datastream. A delay may be provided by an RC delay circuit 952.

When the input data stream on 856 is delivered on output 948, then theclock select portion 950 of selector 944 delivers a delayed clock signalfrom 954 to output 956. In this situation, there is a 6.312 Mb/s datastream on output 948 and a 1.544 MHz clock signal on output 956. Thisclock signal picks off the correspondent data channel in the data streamon 948 by demultiplexing the data stream through a data retime flip-flop958. This provides a 1.544 Mb/s data stream as data A and a 1.544 MHzclock signal as clock A.

When the data stream from 828 or 838 is passed through to output 948,then the clock select portion 950 of selector 944 delivers a nondelayedclock signal from 960 to output 956. The intermediate speed clock signalon 956 is applied to data retime flip-flop 958. This provides a 6.312Mb/s data stream as data A synchronized with a 6.312 MHz clock signal asclock A. Data A and clock A signals are delivered to data comparator880, FIG. 13b.

Section B of Data Comparator Interface 810, FIG. 16

The first input side 808 of monitor 101, FIG. 1, is provided by sectionB of the data comparator interface 810, FIG. 13b, as shown at data entry808. Section B of the data comparator interface 810 includes a lineselector 960, FIG. 16, receiving as inputs two bipolar data streams fromthe LBO/Switch monitor buses 870 and 871 for lines 1 and 2, FIGS. 1, 2a,9a, 13a and b and 16. These signals are either at a 1.544 Mb/s rate or a6.312 Mb/s rate. In one form, the data streams are balanced bipolar andare converted to single-ended signals by transformers (not shown). Theline selector 960 chooses one of the inputs 870 or 871 according to theselection bit on 878 for delivery to output 962.

The selected line signal on 962 is input to an adaptive bipolar slicer964. This type of circuit typically includes an input buffer amplifierwhich is output to a peak detector which in conjunction with a thresholdadjuster sets the threshold for the bipolar slicer in proportion to thesignal amplitude. A minimum threshold clamp sets the minimum allowablesignal level, so that an all zeros condition can be recognized as such.In one form, a slicer may have two TTL outputs, one output going to alogic 1 for positive pulses, and the other output going to a logic 1 fornegative pulses. The output of the slicer may be passed through a B6Zsdecoder 966 if needed to extract such code from the signal.

The output of the slicer 964 is also delivered to a clock recoverycircuit 968 for extraction of clock signals. In one form, the clockrecovery circuit OR's two TTL outputs of the slicer to obtainreturn-to-zero data (RZ). The RZ data is applied as the input to a clockrecovery phase locked loop. The phase locked loop adjusts the phase ofthe recovered clock so that the RZ data can be retimed by a clocktransition in the middle of the RZ data pulse. A sampling phase detectormeasures the phase error between the recovered clock and the RZ clock.The error signal is amplified by a loop amplifier to produce VCO controlvoltage, which increases or decreases voltage controlled oscillatorfrequency as necessary to maintain proper phase alignment. A voltagecontrolled oscillator operates at approximately 12.6 MHz and is dividedin frequency by either 2 or 8 depending on the state of one of theselection bits in control 868 (FIG. 15). The output clock signal on 970can thus be at either 1.544 MHz or 6.312 MHz. In this example, a voltagecontrolled oscillator frequency offset circuit is used since the ratiobetween 6.312 and 1.544 MHz is not exactly 4 to 1.

The output of the clock recovery circuit 968 is also applied to a dataretime flip-flop 972 together with the output of the decoder 966. Theoutput of the flip-flop is a 1.544 Mb/s or 6.312 Mb/s data stream asdata B synchronous with clock signals of 1.544 MHz or 6.312 MHzrespectively, as clock B. Data B and clock B are delivered to datacomparator 880, FIG. 13b.

Data Comparator 880, FIG. 17

The data comparator 880 of FIG. 13b is illustrated in FIG. 17.Comparator 880 is used to compare two data signals A and B and theirassociated clocks A and B at either 1.544 MHz or 6.312 MHz. Thecomparator synchronizes these signals (in one form to plus or minus 7bits input offset) and counts the errors that occur. The signal streamsare compared bit for bit, and each noncoincidence constitutes an error.The number of errors occurring in a given sampling time interval orwindow indicates the bit error rate.

Each data line is provided with a zero counter 974 and 976 to detect agiven number of consecutive zeros chosen to usually indicate an inputdisconnect, equipment malfunction or the like. In one form, 63consecutive zeros has been found statistically satisfactory to indicatea lack of data activity, and the zero counters 974 and 976 are set tosend flag signals over outputs 890 and 892 upon such occurrence. Innormal operation, data and clock A are passed through zero counter 974to output 978, and data and clock B are passed through zero counter 976to output 980.

In one form, a clock switch 982 is provided with input connections 984and 986 for receiving an all zeros indication from 890 or 892. When datais lost, it is assumed that the associated clock is also lost. The clockswitch 982 routes the remaining clock signal in the missing one's placeto clock that side of the system. If data A is lost, clock switch 982sends clock B as an alternate or backup to zero counter 974 forprocessing through the system. If data B is lost, clock switch 982 sendsclock A as an alternate or backup to zero counter 976 for processingthrough the system. Clock or data pulses override the substitution.Thus, a loss of either clock, when the data is lost, is compensated forby using the remaining input clock on both lines to the rest of thecircuit.

Data B and clock B are delivered via 980 to a selectable delay circuit988. In one form, this circuit includes a 32 bit tapable shift registercomprising four 8 bit shift registers in cascadeo relation. Eight jumperwires are connected to designated output ports of the registers,preferably two wires to each register, with one of the two wiresconnected to the highest order output port and the other wire to amiddle level output port. The jumper wire from the highest order outputport of the fourth or final register provides the maximum delay of 32time bits, and this has been found sufficient for the current system.Longer delays can easily be provided by additional cascaded registers.The eight jumper wires lead to a one-of-eight selector which delivers anoutput on 990 in accordance with the selection code on 882.

Data A and clock A are delivered via 978 to an eight bit shift register992. This provides a fixed delay in the A data at eight clock time bits,and delivers delayed data A at 994. It has been found desirable toprovide a delay in the data A stream when the receive side of themuldem, FIG. 1, is being monitored. Data A is derived from 875 or 876entering the second input side 812 of the monitor and passes through thedemultiplexing circuitry of the monitor 101. Data B is derived from 870or 871 entering the first input side 808 of the monitor and has alreadypassed through the demultiplexing circuitry of the receive side of themuldem. In this situation, data B may or may not be ahead of data A. Itis thus desirable to delay data A by a sufficient amount to insure itlags data stream B, and let selectable delay 988 for data stream B bringthe two data streams A and B into alignment.

It may be recalled that when the transmit side of the muldem, FIG. 1, isbeing monitored, data stream B derived from 870 and 871 at the firstinput side 808 comes from the line and group inputs without passingthrough any demultiplexing or multiplexing circuitry and hence issubstantially nondelayed. Data stream A, however, has passed through themultiplexing circuitry of the transmit side of the muldem and throughthe demultiplexing circuitry of the monitor, and thus is behind datastream B. Selectable delay 988, FIG. 17, delays data stream B to bringthe two data streams A and B into alignment and enable bit for bitcomparison.

Returning to FIG. 17, data stream A is fed via 994 to an elastic buffer996. This elastic buffer enables data stream A to slip bits in time andmore finely tune the alignment of data streams A and B beyond thepreliminary alignment afforded by selectable delay 988. The bufferenables incremental one bit time shifts of data stream A and may berepeated as needed.

Delayed and slip shifted data stream A is delivered via 998 to aresynchronization flip-flop circuit 1000. Selectably delayed data streamB is delivered via 990 to this resynchronization flip-flop circuit 1000.In one form, this resynchronization circuit includes a pair offlip-flops, one receiving data stream A and the other receiving datastream B. Both flip-flops are clocked by clock B to thus providesynchronized outputs at 1002.

The output of the resynchronization circuit 1000 is delivered via 1002to an error detector 1004. In one form, this error detector includes anexclusive OR gate having a pair of inputs from the parallel synchronizedoutputs of the flip-flops in circuit 1000. The output of the exclusiveOR gate goes high when a bit error occurs, i.e. when there is anoncoincidence of bits between data stream A and data stream B for thecurrent bit time slot.

The output of error detector 1004 is delivered via 1006 to an errorcounter circuit 1008. This circuit counts the number of noncoincidencesor bit errors and registers the count over four bit connection 888,FIGS. 17 and 13b. In one preferred form, the error signal on 1006 to becounted in error counter 1008 is gated against a clock B pulse throughan AND gate to provide count pulses even if a multibit error causes theline to remain high.

The output of the error detector 1004 is also delivered via 1010 to asynchronization control circuit 1012 which is connected to a slipcounter enable circuit 1014 which in turn controls elastic buffer 996.An error signal from 1010 is gated against a slip signal and activatesslip counter enable 1014 to cause elastic buffer 996 to slip shift datastream A. After this slip shift, data streams A and B on 998 and 990 areagain compared, and if an error again appears at 1010, the slip shift isrepeated. This sequence is carried out until data streams A and B arealigned or cannot be aligned due to data loss or the like.

In one form, elastic buffer 996 includes a pair of eight bit multipleport registers serving as read/write buffers which are simultaneouslyaddressed by two counters, a write counter and a read counter. Storageflip-flops are provided so that the data strobed-in in accordance withthe incremented addresses from the write counter may lead the datastrobed-out in accordance with the incremented addresses from the readcounter. The time lag between the correspondent write and then readaddresses shifts or slips the data stream in time. Slip counter enable1014 enables the read counter for incrementation of the read address.This offsets the write and read addresses by one additional bit, wherebythe data is read out one bit later, and thus data stream A is shifted byone bit. Alternatively, an error signal on 1010 may disable the slipcounter enable 1014 which in turn disables the read counter for one bitsuch that the read address lags the write address by one less bit anddata stream A is read out one bit earlier whereby to shift or slip datastream A one bit forward. In this latter form, the read and writecounters are continuously incremented by the system clock, for example,clock B.

Synchronization control 1012 includes counter circuitry which reacts tothe processing of a given consecutive number of error free data bits, inthe current system sixteen. This control sends a sync signal on 886 andalso causes the above noted slip signal to go low to prevent slipshifting by elastic buffer 996 even if an error signal appears on 1010.A short sampling time interval or window, sixteen bits in the currentsystem, is now open and counter 1008 is enabled and records the numberof bit errors. At the end of this interval, reset can be provided themonitor 800 on 884.

Monitor Control Software

In a preferred embodiment, monitor 800 of FIG. 13 is implemented using amicroprocessor. For example, it is possible to embody the monitor in amicroprocessor with 8 K bytes of PROM and 512 bytes RAM. Programsequences important to the operation of the monitor are set forth belowin considerable detail. Each sequence is presented as a listing offunctional steps, expressed in English language form rather than in acomputer language. Generally, following each sequence there is adiscussion of the sequence.

LIST OF SEQUENCES

Sequence 1: Main Test Control Sequence

Sequence 2: Self Test

Sequence 3: Error Injection Test

Sequence 4: Bit-Error-Rate Test

Sequence 5: Receive Data Path Test

Sequence 6: Set Up Path to be Monitored

Sequence 7: Monitor Test

Sequence 8: Test of Standby LS/IS XMT in Preparation for ProtectiveSwitching

Sequence 9: Test of Standby LS/IS RCV in Preparation for ProtectiveSwitching

Sequence 10: Transmit Data Path Test

Sequence 11: Standby Transmit Data Path Test

Sequence 12: Standby Receive Data Path Test

Sequence 13: Isolation of Low Speed Failures to Channel or Common Module

Sequence 14: Transmit Test of Off-Line Main High Speed Unit

Sequence 15: Transmit Test of Off-Line Main Low Speed Unit

Sequence 16: Manual Monitoring

17: Switch to Low Speed Standby

Sequence 18: Switch to High Speed Standby

Sequence 19: LS/IS Alarm Updating

Sequence 20: Detecting Partially Equipped Low Speed Groups

Sequence 21: Receive Test of Off-Line Main High Speed Unit

    ______________________________________                                        Sequence 1 - Main Test Control Sequence                                       ______________________________________                                        1.0  Start                                                                    1.1a Initialization                                                           1.1b Read from hardware selectors:                                                 Bit error rate threshold                                                      Auto revert or manual revert after protective switching                  1.2  Automatic monitoring or manual monitoring?                                    Manual - Go to Sequence 16                                                    Automatic - Go to 1.3                                                    1.3  Perform Self Test (Seq. 2)                                               1.4  Set channel number, CH = 1                                                    Set group number, GP = 1                                                 1.5  Perform RCV data path tests (Sequence 5), for line                            numbers = 0, 1 and 2, then XMT tests (Sequence 10) for                        lines 0, 1 and 2. Line 0 is standby.                                     1.6  Increment GP                                                             1.7  All groups tested?                                                            No - Go to 1.5                                                                Yes - Go to 1.8                                                          1.8  Update alarms                                                            1.9  Reset GP = 1                                                                  Increment CH                                                             1.10 All channels tested?                                                          No - Go to 1.5                                                                Yes - Go to 1.11                                                         1.11 Bridge standby LS/IS unit to XMT input of next equipped                       group and bridge standby HS RCV input to appropriate                          Line 1 or 2.                                                             1.12 Go to 1.2                                                                ______________________________________                                    

One of the important steps in initialization by the monitor is to readthe bit-error-rate threshold at which a tested signal path is consideredto have failed. The threshold can be set, for example, with back panelswitches, by the user of the muldem to meet his particular communicationand reliability requirements.

If the system is operating in its normal automatic monitoring mode, thenit performs a self test, which will be described below in connectionwith Sequence 2.

After the self test, the monitor begins to perform bit for bit testingof the data paths of the multiplexer/demultiplexer 100. It is importantto recognize that step 1.5 is the inner loop of the sequence, and it isthe line number which is incremented in that loop, rather than the groupor channel number. Both the transmit and rceive paths are tested here.The group number is incremented at step 1.6, and the channel number isincremented at step 1.9 in the outermost loop. The effect is that themonitor switches from line to line as often as possible, so that ifthere is a high speed failure affecting all the groups on a particularline, it will be detected as soon as possible, with minimum loss ofmessage traffic.

The tests of the standby paths use data taken from the various groups ofLines 1 and 2. On the transmit side, the relay 183 of FIG. 4 is closedfor a selected one of the LBO/switches to send data to the standby unit.This monitoring path is illustrated in FIG. 25, wherein a broken linesignal path 401 indicates an example in which the user data is "bridged"to the intermediate speed standby unit from the Line 1, group 2LBO/Switch. FIG. 26 shows that on the receive side, input data is takenfrom Line 1 or Line 2 to standby path for the monitor testing.

Accordingly, after all groups and channels have been tested once, thelow speed/intermediate speed standby unit is bridged to the nextequipped group in Line 1 or 2. If the standby line has been taking itsdata from the last equipped group in Line 1, it now begins taking itstransmit input data from the first equipped group in line 2. In thislatter situation, the receive section must be switched so that input tothe standby line is the high speed input to Line 2.

    ______________________________________                                        Sequence 2 - Self Test                                                        ______________________________________                                        2.0  Enter                                                                    2.1  Perform ROM test                                                         2.2  Perform RAM test                                                         2.3  Perform Error Injection Test (Seq. 3)                                    2.4  Memory error detected?                                                        Yes - Display Error Code and Go to 2.1                                        No - Return                                                              ______________________________________                                    

    ______________________________________                                        Sequence 3 - Error Injection Test                                             ______________________________________                                        3.0  Enter                                                                    3.1  Select an error free data path                                           3.2  Command Selector Module 814 to inject errors                             3.3  Perform (long) bit-error-rate test (Seq. 4)                              3.4  Errors detected?                                                              Yes - Go to 3.6                                                               No - Go to 3.5                                                           3.5  Set monitor alarm                                                        3.6  Remove the command to inject errors                                      3.7  Return                                                                   ______________________________________                                    

In the self-test, the processor performs a check sum test on the ROM anda write and compare test on the RAM. Then the error injection test ofSequence 3 is performed.

In the error injection test, after an error free data path has beenselected, the selector module 814 of FIG. 14 is commanded to injecterrors into its output. The bit error rate test of Sequence 4 isperformed on the error free data path, while errors are purposelyinjected. If no errors are detected in step 3.4, then there is mostlikely a malfunction in the monitor equipment, so an alarm is setaccordingly.

    ______________________________________                                        Sequence 4 - Bit Error-Rate-Tests                                             ______________________________________                                        4.0  Enter                                                                    4.1  Is this a test on a path which has failed?                                    Yes - Go to 4.2                                                               No - Go to 4.3                                                           4.2  Set threshold of 1 error over very long time interval,                        then go to 4.6                                                           4.3  Short test?                                                                   No - Go to 4.5                                                                Yes - Go to 4.4                                                          4.4  Short Test - Set threshold at low number of errors over                       short time interval, then go to 4.6                                      4.5  Long Test - Set threshold at larger number of errors over                     a long time interval                                                     4.6  Reset the comparator                                                     4.7  Is the comparator in sync?                                                    No - Go to 4.13                                                               Yes - Go to 4.8                                                          4.8  Go into idle loop based on the selected test interval                    4.9  Comparator detected all zeroes?                                               No - Go to 4.11                                                               Yes - Go to 4.10                                                         4.10 Declare failure, set "all zeroes detected" flag and                           Return                                                                   4.11 Was threshold number of errors detected?                                      No - Go to 4.13                                                               Yes - Go to 4.12                                                         4.12 Set "Section failed" flag and                                                 Return                                                                   4.13 Clear "Section failed" flag (Pass)                                       4.14 Return                                                                   ______________________________________                                    

The basic test of Sequence 4 is to compare the number of bit errorsdetected by data comparator 880 with a threshold number. If thethreshold is exceeded, then there is considered to be a failure in thepath tested. One of the first questions to be asked in Sequence 4 is atstep 4.1 which determines whether the path under test is a failed pathwhich has never been determined by the monitor to be in properoperation. This is done because the system of the present inventionsubjects such failed sections to a more stringent test than unfailedsections. This is a form of hysteresis which prevents sections withmarginal operation from being repeatedly automatically switched in andout of the main signal path by the monitor. For example, if thethreshold for unfailed sections is 10⁻⁵ (1 error per 10⁵ bits), then anappropriate threshold for a failed section is 10⁻⁷. In step 4.2 thiswould be implemented by setting the threshold as one error, detectedover the very long test interval necessary to test 10.sup. 7 bits.

If the test is not on a failed section, then either the short or longtest is performed. In the short test of 4.4, a low number of errors, forexample one, is required to be detected over a short interval (e.g.,necessary to test 10⁵ bits), in order to be classified as a failure. Inthe long test, a larger number of errors is required to be detected overa longer interval, for example 10 errors over a period testing 10⁶ bits.Preferably, the short and long test threshold is the same number of biterrors per second, but the long test has greater statisticalsignificance, because of the longer measurement interval used.

Once the thresholds have been set, the monitor issues a reset command tothe comparator and checks whether it is in synchronization. Then themonitor waits while the bit errors, if any, are counted. If the allzeroes detector of the data comparator 880 detects no data activity thenthis information is flagged by the monitor.

    ______________________________________                                        Sequence 5 - Receive Data Path Test                                           ______________________________________                                        5.0  Enter and set up path to be monitored (Seq. 6)                           5.1  Is the selected group equipped?                                               Yes - Go to 5.2                                                               No - Return                                                              5.2  Is High Speed Receive Common in sync?                                         Yes - Go to 5.6                                                               No - Go to 5.3                                                           5.3  Is High Speed Monitor Demultiplexer 822 in sync?                              Yes - Go to 5.5                                                               No - Go to 5.4                                                           5.4  External problem -                                                            Declare failure of receive input to muldem                                    ("Line to Receive" failure)                                                   and                                                                           Return                                                                   5.5  Internal (High Speed Receive Common) problem - alarm                          and go to 5.20                                                           5.6  Is High Speed Monitor Demultiplexer 822 in sync?                              Yes - Go to 5.8                                                               No - Go to 5.7                                                           5.7  Perform Monitor Test (Seq. 7) and                                             Return                                                                   5.8  Perform Short Bit-Error-Rate Test (Seq. 4)                               5.9  Results of Test?                                                              Failed - Go to 5.10                                                           Passed - Return                                                          5.10 Perform Long Bit Error Rate Test (Seq. 4)                                     Failed - Go to 5.12                                                           Passed - Return                                                          5.11 All zeroes condition?                                                         Yes - Go to Seq. 20 (Detecting Partially Equipped Groups)                     No - Go to 5.12                                                          5.12 Set up and perform Short Bit Error Rate Test on all                           equipped groups in this line, counting number of passes                       and fails                                                                5.13 Is number of failures greater than number of passes?                          Yes - Go to 5.20                                                              No - Go to 5.14                                                          5.14 (There is probably a LS/IS failure in the path                                originally under test)                                                        Perform Test of Standby RCV Before Protective Switching                       (Seq. 9)                                                                 5.15 Result of test                                                                Pass - Go to 5.18                                                             Fail - Go to 5.16                                                        5.16 Report major alarm, Loss of Traffic                                      5.17 Return                                                                   5.18 Switch failed LS/IS path to standby (Seq. 17) and                             report alarm                                                             5.19 Return                                                                   5.20 (There is probably a HS failure in the path                                   originally under test)                                                        Perform Standby RCV/Data Path Test (Seq. 12)                             5.21 Result of test                                                                Pass - Go to 5.24                                                             Fail - Go to 5.22                                                        5.22 Report Major alarm, Loss of Traffic                                      5.23 Return                                                                   5.24 Switch filed HS unit to standby (Seq. 18) and Report Alarm               5.25 Return                                                                   ______________________________________                                    

Sequence 5 is the main test sequence for the receive data paths of Line1 and Line 2. These are illustrated in FIG. 26. The receive input datais monitored at point 875 or point 876, depending on which line is beingcurrently monitored. The receive output is monitored either atLBO/Switch monitor bus 870 for Line 1 or bus 871 for Line 2. The monitorenables the LBO/Switch module of the group selected for monitoring so asto send the receive output data onto the monitor bus.

In addition to the monitoring of Line 1 and Line 2 as illustrated inFIG. 26, the Sequence 5 test can also monitor the path shown in FIG. 21.In that figure, one of the intermediate speed groups in Line 1 hasfailed, leading to a switch to intermediate speed standby. The monitorcan continue to pick up any of the seven low speed/intermediate speedgroups on the Line 1 monitor bus 870, including the failed unit.Moreover, the output of the intermediate speed standby unit is monitoredat its LBO/Switch, which is read by the Line 2 monitor bus 871.

Another example of monitoring an on-line data path is shown in FIG. 22,where there has been a switch to high speed standby from Line 1. Onceagain, the monitoring points are point 875 and point 870.

After the receive path to be monitored has been set up (Sequence 6) atstep 5.1, then the monitor check at stop 5.2 to be sure that the HighSpeed Receive Common in the monitor path has been able to synchronize tothe incoming data. If it has not, then there is a check at step 5.3 todetermine if the High Speed Monitor Demultiplexer 822 (FIG. 13) issynchronized with the data. If Demultiplexer 822 is also not able tosynchronize with the data, then the decision is made that the datareceived at the input to the demultiplexer is absent or bad, that is,that there is a problem external to the muldem. The monitor declaresthis so-called "line to receive" failure and returns.

If the High Speed Monitor Demultiplexer 822 is able to synchronize withthe data, this means that there is a muldem internal problem, mostprobably something wrong with the High Speed Receive Common module undertest which could not synchronize. Accordingly, the monitor beginspreparation to switch the traffic through the high speed unit under testto the standby high speed unit. As a part of the preparation, thestandby high speed receive unit is tested, beginning at step 5.20, tomake sure that it will protect the traffic when it goes on-line. Thistesting of the standby unit will be described below in connection withSequence 12. If the high speed standby receive unit satisfactorilypasses the test, then at step 5.24 the high speed is switched tostandby. If it is detected that the high speed standby unit is alsofailed, then at 5.22 a major alarm is reported inasmuch as the trafficcannot be protected by switching.

If there is no problem in step 5.2 with synchronization of the HighSpeed Receive Common module, then the monitor proceeds toward performingbit for bit testing. First in step 5.6 it makes sure that the High SpeedMonitor Demultiplexer 822 can synchronize to the data. If not, then themonitor equipment is suspect and, at step 5.7 a monitor test (Sequence7) is begun. If the monitor is synchronizing to the high speed data,then the short bit error rate test can be initiated at step 5.8. Whenthis test is complete, if it is passed, then the test of a selectedsignal path is over and the path is considered good.

If the selected signal path fails the short bit-error-rate, then it issubjected at step 5.10 to the long bit-error-rate test. It will beremembered that this test requires a longer observation interval and theoccurrence of a preselected number of multiple error bits in order todeclare a failure. It may be that in the longer test, the path performswell enough to pass, in which case this test of the selected path isover.

If the selected path fails the long bit-error-rate test, then themonitor attempts to determine if the failure is in the lowspeed/intermediate speed section of the path or in the high speedsection. This determination is made at step 5.12, where the monitorundertakes to perform the short-bit-error rate test on all the equippedgroups in the selected line, counting the number of passes and thenumber of failures. If the number of failures is greater than the numberof passes, then it is probably the high speed section, common to allgroups, which is at fault. In this case, the monitor begins at step 5.20the same kind of preparation for switching to high speed standby thatwas described above.

By comparing the number of failures and passes, the monitor is employinga majority voting procedure for fault localization. Groups may be addedor removed, even while the muldem is in operation, without disruption tosuch a procedure.

If there are not more failures than passes, then there is probablysimply a low speed/intermediate speed failure in the group originallyselected for test. In this case, the monitor begins preparations for aprotective switch to the low speed or intermediate standby units. Onceagain, at step 5.14, it checks the low speed/intermediate speed standbyunits to make sure they will be able to protect the traffic afterswitching. If it is determined that they will not, then a major alarm isreported. If the low speed/intermediate speed standby units arefunctional, then traffic is switched onto the standby path.

    ______________________________________                                        Sequence 6 - Set Up Path to be Monitored                                      ______________________________________                                        6.0  Enter                                                                    6.1  Select line, group and channel at Monitor Line Selector,                      High Speed Monitor Demultilexer, Low Speed Monitor                            Demultiplexer and Data                                                        Comparator Interface                                                     6.2  Select line, group and channel at LBO/Switch module                      6.3  Read identity bits at LBO/Switch module                                  6.4  Is the group equipped?                                                        Yes - Go to 6.7                                                               No - Go to 6.5                                                           6.5  Has this group been equipped previously?                                      No - Flag and return                                                          Yes - Go to 6.6                                                          6.6  Report alarm condition and                                                    Return                                                                   6.7  Is this group locked out (prohibited from being switched                      to standby)?                                                                  No - Go to 6.9                                                                Yes - Go to 6.8                                                          6.8  Check memory for previously read identity bits, to find                       whether this group is LS or IS                                           6.9  Send proper delay to comparator, based on whether group                       is IS or LS                                                              6.10 Allow time for synchronizing by High Speed Monitor                            Demultiplexer and Low Speed Monitor Demultiplexer                        6.11 Return                                                                   ______________________________________                                    

In setting up the path to be monitored, the monitor must issue line,group and channel codes to the Monitor Line Selector 814 (FIG. 13), theHigh and Low Speed Monitor Speed Demultiplexers 822 and 836 and the DataComparator Interface 810. Further, as will be recalled from FIGS. 4 and5, the monitor must issue to an LBO/Switch module group enable,transmit/receive select and channel select codes. The selectedLBO/Switch is enabled to pass information onto one of the monitor buses.

The monitor reads the identity bits from the selected LBO/Switch module,at step 6.3. From the identity bits, the monitor can determine whetherthe selected group is low speed, intermediate speed, unequipped orlocked out. "Lockout" means that this data path is not to be switched tostandby, and can be indicated by both identity bits being a logical one.If the group is unequipped, having no LBO/Switch, then both identitybits will be absent, which can be read as both logical zero. If it isdetermined from the identity bits that the group is not presentlyequipped, but a code stored in memory indicates in step 6.5 that thegroup was previously equipped, then an alarm condition is reported. Thisalarm can be manually cleared if the group is no longer going to beequipped. If it is determined in step 6.7 that the group is locked out,then the memory is checked for previously read identity bits to findwhether the group is intermediate speed or low speed. Based on whetherthe selected group is intermediate or low speed, the proper delay issent to data comparator 880 (FIG. 13), then time is allowed forsynchronization of the high speed monitor demultiplexer 822, and the lowspeed monitor demultiplexer 836, if necessary.

The ability of the monitor to detect from the identity bits whether agroup is equipped or not permits a group to be added or removed whilethe muldem continues to operate. An ability to detect low speed groupswhich are partially equipped with channels (Sequence 20) is likewiseimportant in adding and removing circuits. If a group (or channel) isequipped, it is monitored; otherwise it is ignored. The monitor canimmediately identify whether the group is low or intermediate speed.This feature, together with the general interconnection of the transmitand receive sections (FIGS. 2 and 9) dispenses with the need for specialchanges to the system, such as the use of jumpers, upon addition orremoval of a group. There is no need to interfere at all with theongoing data traffic through the muldem.

    ______________________________________                                        Sequence 7 - Monitor Test                                                     ______________________________________                                        Comment: This is entered when a first test on a data                          path has already failed.                                                      7.0  Enter                                                                    7.1  Perform a second test which is the same (XMT or RCV)                          as the first test, but on the standby path, and with same                     group and channel number as the first test, if possible                       (limit to short bit error rate test).                                    7.2  Results of test                                                               Passed - Go to 7.3                                                            Failed - Go to 7.4                                                       7.3  Flag and Return                                                          7.4  Perform third, fourth, fifth and sixth tests from                             the untested paths in the following group, using the same                     group and channel as the first test where possible:                           Line 1 XMT                                                                    Line 0 XMT (standby)                                                          Line 2 XMT                                                                    Line 1 RCV                                                                    Line 0 RCV (standby)                                                          Line 2 RCV                                                               7.5  Was number of failures greater than number of passes?                         Yes - Go to 7.7                                                               No - Go to 7.6                                                           7.6  Flag and Return                                                          7.7  Declare Monitor Failure                                                  ______________________________________                                    

This test is performed when the High Speed Monitor Demultiplexer hasbeen found unable to synchronize or satsify the bit-for-bit test withthe data from the group selected for test, as for example, in step 5.6.In this circumstance, it is important to make a determination whetherthe data is bad or whether there is a monitor problem. This isaccomplished by checking the response of the monitor to other groups.

In step 7.1, the monitor attempts to perform on the standby path thesame kind of test which was just failed. If this test is passed, thenthe monitor is considered all right. If the monitor fails to form asuccessful test on the standby path, then it proceeds to attempt theremaining four tests in the inner loop of Sequence 1 at step 1.5. If thenumber of failures in the six tests is greater than the number ofpasses, then a monitor failure is declared.

    ______________________________________                                        Sequence 8 - Test of Standby LS/IS XMT in Preparation for                     Protective Switching                                                          ______________________________________                                        8.0  Enter                                                                    8.1  Is standby LS/IS unit available (i.e., not carrying traffic)?                 Yes - Go to 8.3                                                               No - Go to 8.2                                                           8.2  Is the High Speed Monitor Demultiplexer in sync?                              Yes - Return                                                                  No - Go to 8.7                                                           8.3  Is the standby high speed unit available?                                     No - Go to 8.7                                                                Yes - Go to 8.4                                                          8.4  Is the High Speed Monitor Demultiplexer in sync?                              No - Go to 8.7                                                                Yes - Go to 8.5                                                          8.5  Perform short bit-error-rate test on standby path                        8.6  Return                                                                   8.7  Perform Monitor Test (Seq. 7)                                            8.8  Return                                                                   ______________________________________                                    

    ______________________________________                                        Sequence 9 - Test of Standby LS/IS RCV in Preparation for                     Protective Switching                                                          ______________________________________                                        9.0  Enter                                                                    9.1  Is standby LS/IS unit available (not carrying traffic)?                       Yes - Go to 9.3                                                               No - Go to 9.2                                                           9.2  Is standby high speed receive unit in sync?                                   Yes - Return                                                                  No - Go to 9.8                                                           9.3  Is standby high speed unit available?                                         No - Go to 9.8                                                                Yes Go to 9.4                                                            9.4  Is the standby high speed receive unit in sync?                               No - Go to 9.8                                                                Yes - Go to 9.5                                                          9.5  Is the High Speed Monitor demultiplexer in sync?                              No - Go to 9.8                                                                Yes - Go to 9.6                                                          9.6  Perform short bit-error-rate test on standby path                        9.7  Return                                                                   9.8  Perform Monitor Test                                                     9.9  Return                                                                   ______________________________________                                    

In Sequence 8, the transmit standby path is tested after having found afault in one of the on-line low/intermediate speed signal paths, and inpreparation for switching to one of the standby units. In Sequence 9,the receive standby path is tested under the same circumstances. Afterchecking to be sure that the standby low/intermediate speed units andhigh speed unit are available, and that the standby high speed receiveunit can synchronize, along with the High Speed Monitor Demultiplexer,the standby path is subjected to a short bit-error-rate test. If thepath passes the test, then data from the failed group or line cansuccessfully be protected by switching it to the standby path.

    ______________________________________                                        Sequence 10 - Transmit Data Path Test                                         ______________________________________                                        10.0 Enter and set up path to be monitored (Seq. 6)                           10.1 Is the selected group equipped?                                               Yes - Go to 10.2                                                              No - Return                                                              10.2 Is High Speed Monitor Demultiplexer in sync?                                  Yes - Go to 10.4                                                              No - Go to 10.3                                                          10.3 Perform Monitor Test (Seq. 7) and                                             Return                                                                   10.4 Perform Short Bit-Error-Rate Test (Seq. 4)                               10.5 Results of Test?                                                              Failed - Go to 10.6                                                           Passed - Return                                                          10.6 Perform Long Bit-Error-Rate Test (Seq. 4)                                10.7 Results of Long Test?                                                         Failed - Go to 10.8                                                           Passed - Return                                                          10.8 All zeroes condition?                                                         Yes - Go to Seq. 20 (Detecting Partially Equipped Groups)                     No - Go to 10.9                                                          10.9 Set up and perform Short Bit-Error-Rate Test on all                           equipped groups in                                                            this line, counting number of passes and fails                           10.10                                                                              Is number of failures greater than number of passes                           Yes - Go to 10.17                                                             No - Go to 10.11                                                         10.11                                                                              (There is probably a LS/IS failure in the path                                originally under test)                                                        Perform Test of Standby LS/IS XMT Before                                      Protective Switching (Seq. 8)                                            10.12                                                                              Result of test                                                                Pass - Go to 10.15                                                            Fail - Go to 10.13                                                       10.13                                                                              Report major alarm, Loss of Traffic                                      10.14                                                                              Return                                                                   10.15                                                                              Switch failed LS/IS path to standby (Seq. 17) and report alarm           10.16                                                                              Return                                                                   10.17                                                                              (There is probably an HS failure in the path                                  originally under test.)                                                       Perform Test Standby Transmit Data Path Test (Seq. 11)                   10.18                                                                              Result of test                                                                Pass - Go to 10.21                                                            Fail - Go to 10.19                                                       10.19                                                                              Report Major alarm, Loss of Traffic                                      10.20                                                                              Return                                                                   10.21                                                                              Switch failed HS unit to standby (Seq. 18) and Report Alarm              10.22                                                                              Return                                                                   ______________________________________                                    

Sequence 10 is the main transmit data path test. It is quite similar tothe receive test in Sequence 5. FIG. 25 illustrates the signal paths forLine 1 and Line 2 which are tested by Sequence 10. The input to thegroup under test is monitored at the LBO/Switch modules on the monitorbus for the selected line. The output is monitored at the transmitmonitor point on the selected one of the DS-3 Interfaces. FIG. 19 showsanother configuration which can be tested using the same input andoutput monitor points. In that figure, there has been a switch to thestandby intermediate speed unit. The path which includes theintermediate speed standby unit, along with the high speed section ofLine 1, can be tested using the Line 1 monitor bus and DS-3 Interfacemonitor point, but the failed low speed unit replaced by the standbymodule cannot. It is monitored differently, as described in connectionwith Sequence 15.

FIG. 20 shows the system after there has been a switch of the Line 1traffic to the high speed standby unit. The monitoring of the switchedpath can be carried out, taking the input from the LBO/Switch modulesand the output from the transmit monitor point of the standby DS-3Interface.

    ______________________________________                                        Sequence 11 - Standby Transmit Data Path Test                                 ______________________________________                                        11.0 Enter                                                                    11.1 Set up path to be monitored (Seq. 6), bridging (at                            LBO/Switch) to an on-line LS or IS input                                 11.2 LS or IS?                                                                     LS - Go to 11.6                                                               IS - Go to 11.3                                                          11.3 Is High Speed Monitor Demultiplexer in sync?                                  Yes - Go to 11.10                                                             No - Go to 11.4                                                          11.4 Perform Monitor Test (Seq. 7)                                            11.5 (Passed Monitor Test) Declare Standby High Speed                              Transmit fail and                                                             Return                                                                   11.6 Is High Speed Monitor Demultiplexer in sync?                                  Yes - Go to 11.7                                                              No - Go to 11.4                                                          11.7 Is Low Speed Monitor Demultiplexer in sync?                                   Yes - Go to 11.10                                                             No - Go to 11.8                                                          11.8 Perform Monitor Test                                                     11.9 (Passed Monitor Test) Declare Standby LS/IS failure and                       Return                                                                   11.10                                                                              Perform Short Bit-Error-Rate Test                                        11.11                                                                              Test Result                                                                   Pass - Return                                                                 Fail - Go to 11.12                                                       11.12                                                                              Perform Long Bit Error Rate Test                                         11.13                                                                              Test Result?                                                                  Pass - Return                                                                 Fail - Go to 11.14                                                       11.14                                                                              Perform Monitor Test                                                     11.15                                                                              (Passed Monitor Test) Declare LS or IS Standby                                Failure and                                                                   Return                                                                   ______________________________________                                    

    ______________________________________                                        Sequence 12 - Standby Receive Data Path Test                                  ______________________________________                                        12.0 Enter and Set Up Path to be Monitored (Sequence 6)                       12.1 Is Standby HS RCV in Sync?                                                    Yes - Go to 12.5                                                              No - Go to 12.2                                                          12.2 Is High Speed Monitor Demultiplexer in Sync?                                  No - Go to 12.4                                                               Yes - Go to 12.3                                                         12.3 (Internal Problem) Declare Standby HS RCV Failure and                         Return                                                                   12.4 (External Problem) Declare Failure of Receive Input to                        Muldem ("Line to Receive" Failure) and                                        Return                                                                   12.5 Is High Speed Monitor Demultiplexer in Sync?                                  Yes - Go to 12.7                                                              No - Go to 12.6                                                          12.6 Perform Monitor Test and                                                      Return                                                                   12.7 Perform Short Bit-Error-Rate Test                                        12.8 Results?                                                                      Pass - Return                                                                 Fail - Go to 12.9                                                        12.9 Perform Long Bit-Error-Rate Test                                         12.10                                                                              Results?                                                                      Pass - Return                                                                 Fail - Go to 12.11                                                       12.11                                                                              Line 1 or 2 HS RCV in Sync?                                                   No - Go to 12.2                                                               Yes - Go to 12.12                                                        12.12                                                                              Is HS Monitor Demultiplexer in Sync?                                          No - Go to 12.6                                                               Yes - Go to 12.13                                                        12.13                                                                              Connect the selected group data through standby LS/IS                         from on-Line HS RCV (Line 1 or 2)                                        12.14                                                                              Perform Short Bit-Error-Rate Test                                        12.15                                                                              Results of Test                                                               Fail - Go to 12.17                                                            Pass - Go to 12.16                                                       12.16                                                                              Declare Standby HS RCV failure and                                            Return                                                                   12.17                                                                              Perform Long Bit-Error-Rate Test                                         12.18                                                                              Results of Test                                                               Pass - Go to 12.16                                                            Fail - Go to 12.19                                                       12.19                                                                              Declare Standby LS/IS RCV failure and                                         Return                                                                   ______________________________________                                    

Sequences 11 and 12 are the basic standby signal path monitoring testsfor the transmit and receive sections respectively. It is to beanticipated that most of the time, the standby units, low, intermediateand high speed, will be off-line. If only the on-line units are tested,then there can occur a "silent failure" of the standby units, leavingthe traffic unprotectable at such time as an on-line failure occurs.This is avoided by testing the off-line standby units in Sequences 11and 12.

The transmit test (Sequence 11) is illustrated in FIG. 25, whereinlow/intermediate speed data from a selected on-line group is bridged tothe appropriate low/intermediate speed standby unit for the test, asindicated by broken line signal path 401. The input is monitored on themonitor bus for the line from which the data is taken. The output ismonitored at the transmit monitor point of the standby DS-3 Interface.

The receive test set up is illustrated in FIG. 26, wherein for examplethe high speed data from Line 1 is connected to the standby DS-3Interface for the test. The receive output is monitored at theLBO/Switch module for the low of intermediate speed standby unit, asappropriate. The output of the standby low speed unit is accessed on theLine 1 monitor bus while the intermediate speed standby receive outputis monitored on the Line 2 monitor bus 871. The high speed receive inputis monitored at point 875 for Line 1 and point 876 for Line 2.

The steps of Sequence 11 need little comment being very similar to thosefound in Sequence 5 and 9. Sequence 12 has several unusual features. Ifneither the standby High Speed Receive Common module nor the High SpeedMonitor Demultiplexer can synchronize to the incoming data, then in step12.4 there is declared a failure of receive input to the muldem, the"line to receive" failure. This result can also be reached by anotherroute. If the standby path fails the long bit-error-rate test in step12.9, then there is a determination of whether the High Speed ReceiveCommon module on Line 1 or 2 is in sync with the data, in step 12.11. Ifthe Line 1 or 2 High Speed unit can synchronize to the data and so canthe High Speed Monitor Demultiplexer, then the Line 1 or 2 High SpeedReceive Common units sends data through its standby output to thelow/intermediate speed standby unit. This is illustrated by broken linesignal paths 421 and 422 in FIG. 2a. The Line 1 or 2 High Speed ReceiveCommon module continues to send normal data traffic through its mainoutputs to the on-line low/intermediate speed units.

If the data path through the on-line high speed unit and standbylow/intermediate speed unit passes the short bit-error-rate test in step12.14, then probably it was a failure in the standby High Speed ReceiveCommon module which caused the earlier detected failures in the standbypath. Accordingly, in step 12.16 there is declared a standby high speedreceive failure. If the bit-error-rate test of 12.14 is failed, thenprobably the low/intermediate speed standby unit is at fault, and thisis declared in step 12.19.

    ______________________________________                                        Sequence 13 - Isolation of Low Speed Failures To Channel                      or Common Module                                                              ______________________________________                                        13.0 Enter                                                                    13.1 Have all equipped channels on the selected group failed?                      Yes - Go to 13.2                                                              No - Go to 13.3                                                          13.2 Declare Low Speed Common Failure and                                          Return                                                                   13.3 Declare Individual Channel Failure and                                        Return                                                                   ______________________________________                                    

In step 13.1 of Sequence 13, there is expressed the simple rule which isused to determine whether a failing component is affecting a whole groupor just a single low speed channel. If all the channels on the groupfail then this is considered a group failure.

    ______________________________________                                        Sequence 14 - Transmit Test of Off-Line Main High                             Speed Unit                                                                    ______________________________________                                        14.0 Enter                                                                    14.1 a. Set up path to be monitored, bridging (at LBO/Switch)                      from an on-line LS or IS Group to the standby LS or IS                        unit, if available.                                                           b. Connect standby LS/IS unit to failed HS unit for testing              14.2 LS or IS?                                                                     LS - Go to 14.6                                                               IS - Go to 14.3                                                          14.3 Is High Speed Monitor Demultiplexer in Sync?                                  Yes - Go to 14.10                                                             No - Go to 14.4                                                          14.4 Perform Monitor Test (Sequence 7)                                        14.5 (Passed Monitor Test) Declare High Speed                                      Transmit Fail and                                                             Return                                                                   14.6 Is High Speed Monitor Demultiplexer in Sync?                                  Yes - Go to 14.7                                                              No - Go to 14.4                                                          14.7 Is Low Speed Monitor Demultiplexer in Sync?                                   Yes - Go to 14.10                                                             No - Go to 14.8                                                          14.8 Perform Monitor Test                                                     14.9 (Passed Monitor Test) Declare HS Failure and                                  Return                                                                   14.10                                                                              Perform Short Bit-Error-Rate Test                                        14.11                                                                              Test result?                                                                  Pass - Return                                                                 Fail - Go to 14.12                                                       14.12                                                                              Perform Long Bit-Error-Rate Test                                         14.13                                                                              Test Result?                                                                  Pass - Return                                                                 Fail - Go to 14.14                                                       14.14                                                                              Perform Monitor Test                                                     14.15                                                                              (Passed Monitor Test) Declare HS Failure and                                  Return                                                                   ______________________________________                                    

Sequence 14 is used to test the high speed transmit portion of line 1 or2 after it has failed and been switched off-line. This situation isillustrated in FIG. 20. This test is performed so that a determinationcan be made whether the off-line high speed unit is now repaired orotherwise performing satisfactorily once again. As indicated in thefigure by broken line signal path 403, data from one of the on-line lowspeed or intermediate speed groups is bridged through thelow/intermediate speed standby unit to the failed off-line High SpeedTransmit Interface. Once the special connections have been made, thetest proceeds very much the same as Sequence 11, except any failures areattributed to the previously failed off-line, main high speed unit.

    ______________________________________                                        Sequence 15 - Transmit Test of Off-Line Main                                  Low Speed Unit                                                                ______________________________________                                        15.0 Enter                                                                    15.1 Set up path to be monitored                                              15.2 Has the group selected for testing been switched to                           Standby?                                                                      No - Return                                                                   Yes - Go to 15.3                                                         15.3 Monitor the LS or IS group at 6.312 Mb/s monitoring                           point of on line HS XMT Interface, performing that portion                    of Sequence 10 which begins at Step 10.4, and                                 Return                                                                   ______________________________________                                    

As can be understood from a consideration of FIG. 19, when there hasbeen a protective switch to low/intermediate speed standby, the outputof the failed low or intermediate speed unit on Line 1 or 2 is no longerin the high speed output of the line and no longer at the transmitmonitor point of the DS-3 Interface. This situation is provided for inthe High Speed Transmit Interface modules such as module 154, shown inmore detail in FIG. 18a.

In FIG. 18a, select circuit 405 is seen to have seven main data inputs406 and one standby input 408. There are only seven output data groupsfrom the module 154, and it is a function of select circuit 405 tosubstitute the data from standby input 408 for the data on a selectedone of the seven main inputs 406. To allow monitoring of the failedlow/intermediate speed group, select circuit 409 provides a monitorpoint 838 on which appears data from a selected one of the seven maindata groups, or the standby data 408.

The data at the monitoring point 838 is at the intermediate speed bitrate, so in Sequence 15, it is referred to as the 6.312 Mb/s monitoringpoint. The performance of the test of Sequence 15, like that of Sequence14, permits a determination as to whether the failed low/intermediatespeed unit is again operating properly.

    ______________________________________                                        Sequence 16 - Manual Monitoring                                               ______________________________________                                        16.0 Enter                                                                    16.1 Set Up monitor path based on panel switches                              16.2 Perform Long Bit Error Rate Test                                         16.3 Test Results                                                                  Fail - Go to 16.4                                                             Pass - Return to Sequence 1, Step 1.2                                    16.4 Flash alarm lights                                                       16.5 Return to Sequence 1.0, Step 1.2                                         ______________________________________                                    

Sequence 16 is entered from step 1.2 of Sequence 1, when a panel switch859 (FIG. 13) commands a change from automatic monitoring to manuallycontrolled monitoring. The effect is to set up a monitor path inaccordance with line, group and channel selection from panel switchesand to repeatedly perform the low bit-error-rate test on the selectedpath, until manually switched back to automatic mode. This allows themonitor to be used as a highly sophisticated test instrument forinvestigation of muldem problems. It has particular utility, where themodule fails, but only occasionally. The monitor can be manually lockedonto the path containing the module to detect its next failure.

    ______________________________________                                        Sequence 17 - Switch to Low Speed Standby                                     ______________________________________                                        17.0 Enter                                                                    17.1 Manual Low Speed Switching Override?                                          Yes - Return                                                                  No - Go to 17.2                                                          17.2 Restore?                                                                      No - Go to 17.6                                                               Yes - Go to 17.3                                                         17.3 Clear switch commands (e.g. line and group select code)                  17.4 Enable Restore command through low speed switch control                  17.5 Return                                                                   17.6 Selected group locked out?                                                    Yes - Return                                                                  No - Go to 17.7                                                          17.7 Switch selected group to LS/IS Standby,                                       sending group code, line select, spare enable and                             LS/IS select through low and high speed switch controls                       to LBO/Switch, LS XMT (RCV) Common, IS XMT                                    (RCV) Interface, HS XMT Interface and HS RCV                                  Common as appropriate.                                                   17.8 Return                                                                   ______________________________________                                    

    ______________________________________                                        Sequence 18 - Switch to High Speed Standby                                    ______________________________________                                        18.0 Enter                                                                    18.1 Manual High Speed Switching Override?                                         Yes - Return                                                                  No - Go to 18.2                                                          18.2 Restore?                                                                      No - Go to 18.6                                                               Yes - Go to 18.3                                                         18.3 Clear switch commands                                                         (e.g. line and group select code)                                        18.4 Is traffic of selected line on LS Standby?                                    No - Return                                                                   Yes - Go to 18.5                                                         18.5 Switch from LS Standby to Main and Return                                18.6 Is HS Standby Available?                                                      No - Return                                                                   Yes - Go to 18.7                                                         18.7 Is Selected Line Locked Out?                                                  Yes - Return                                                                  No - Go to 18.8                                                          18.8 Switch selected line to HS Standby, sending group code,                       line select, spare enable and LS/IS select through low and                    high speed switch controls to LS XMT (RCV) Common,                            IS XMT (RCV) Interface, HS XMT Interface and HS                               RCV Common, as appropriate.                                              18.9 Is traffic from selected line on LS/IS Standby?                               No - Return                                                                   Yes - Go to 18.10                                                        18.10                                                                              Switch so that output of LS/IS Standby goes                                   to HS Standby                                                            18.11                                                                              Return                                                                   ______________________________________                                    

Switching to low speed standby (Sequence 17) and high speed standby(Sequence 18) will now be discussed in detail with reference to FIGS.18-24. However, a particular emphasis is to be made on steps of 17.6 and18.7 in the sequence listings. Muldem 100 has the capability of lockingout a particular path from being switched to standby. This is useful invarious situations. If a user is bringing up a group or channel, or if apath is having problems, the data on the path may be intermittentlyapplied, as for example, test data. Moreover, modules may be switched inand out frequently. It is desirable that these changes do not interferein any way with the real data traffic through the muldem. In anothercase, where there is some form of low priority data, as for example testtones, the user may not care if the traffic is protected. If this lowpriority path is locked out, then a lower ratio of on-line groups tostandby groups has been achieved.

Various means may be used to inform the monitor that a path is lockedout. For example, the line, group and channel panel switches 412-414(FIG. 13) can be read along with lockout switch 860. For thelow/intermediate speed groups, the identity bits of the LBO/Switchmodules indicate a lockout when reat at step 6.3 of Sequence 6.

FIG. 18 shows details of the high speed units which are relevant to theimplementation of protective switching in the system. Various switchingcontrol bits come to the high speed units from the monitor through thelow speed switch control, and also through first the high and then thelow speed switch control. FIG. 18a shows a High Speed TransmitInterface. A select circuit 416 receives a bit from the monitorcommanding it to select between the low speed and the intermediate speedstandby data inputs. As has already been described, select circuit 405can substitute the data on the resulting standby path 408 for one of theseven main data inputs 406. A line select bit and spare enable bit fromthe monitor command select circuit 405 to make such a substitution, andthree group select bits from the monitor specify which group is to besubstituted for. Also as previously described, select circuit 409 sendsto the 6.312 Mb/s monitor point 838 one of the seven main data inputs orthe standby data 408. Select circuit 409 is controlled from the monitorby three group select bits and an enable bit.

In FIG. 18b, there is shown a High Speed Receive Common module such asmodule 302 (FIG. 9). A demultiplexer 418 provides seven intermediatespeed outputs from the single high speed data input. Any one of theseseven can be output on the standby data output 419 of the module 302.Line select and spare enable bits from the monitor command whether thereis to be data on the standby output. Three group enable bits from themonitor select one of the seven main data groups which is to be outputon standby.

Other switching which is important to establishing the pathways in FIGS.19-24 are shown on various ones of the drawings. In FIG. 4, in theIntermediate Speed LBO/Switch module, relays 183 and 190 handle themain/standby switching for the transmit and receive sections,respectively. They are under control of LBO group enable, line selectand receive switch inhibit bits initiated by the monitor through the lowspeed switch control 150. In FIG. 5, in the Low Speed LBO/Switch module,the main/standby relays are seen to be controlled in the same way. InFIG. 7, in the Low Speed Transmit Common module, the main/standbyselection of data is made at select circuit 258. The main/standbytransmit clock selection is made at circuit 237. In FIG. 8, in theIntermediate Speed Transmit Interface, the selections are made at selectcircuits 283 and 274. In the Intermediate Speed Receive Interface ofFIG. 10, main/standby selections are accomplished at circuits 322 and323. The Low Speed Receive Common module of FIG. 11 has circuits 350 and351 to make this selection.

In FIGS. 19-24, for clarity of presentation, the control necessary toproduce the desired switching will be described functionally, ratherthan in terms of the various line select bit, group select bits, etc.The signals will be shown as emanating from the low speed switch control150 and high speed switch control 151, whether they are initiated bypanel switches or automatically from the monitor.

FIG. 19 shows the control required to switch to low/intermediate speedstandby for the transmit section. In this case, all the switch signalspass through the low speed switch control. The LBO/Switch module of thefailed group is switched to standby, sending its output to theappropriate low speed or intermediate speed standby unit. The outputs ofthe low/intermediate speed standby units are switched to main. The HighSpeed Transmit Interface of the affected line, in the example, Line 1,is switched to read the standby input instead of the main input for thefailed group. In the example shown the failure is an intermediate speedgroup, so the High Speed Transmit Interface 154 reads its intermediatespeed standby input.

FIG. 20 shows a switch to high speed standby in the transmit section. Inthe example, there has been a failure in the high speed section ofLine 1. The Low Speed Transmit Common modules and Intermediate SpeedTransmit Interface modules for Line 1 are switched to standby inresponse to a signal from the high speed switch control. The standbyHigh Speed Transmit Interface is switched to now read at its main inputsthe data from the Line 1 low/intermediate speed units. The standby DS-3Interface has a switch which couples the standby high speed output tothe Line 1 high speed output. The Line 1 DS-3 Interface must be switchedoff. In addition, the Line 1 High Speed Transmit Interface can beswitched to read its standby input to provide for monitoring the Line 1off-line high speed units. Further in pursuance of this goal, theoutputs of the low/intermediate speed units are switched to main.

FIG. 21 shows a switch to low/intermediate speed standby in the receivestation. The High Speed Receive Common module of Line 1, in this case,is switched to send on its standby output the data from the failedgroup. The standby low/intermediate speed units are switched to main inorder to read the data coming from the Line 1 High Speed Receive Commonmodule. The LBO/Switch module for the failed Line 1 unit is switched tostandby to receive the output of the standby low/intermediate standbyunits.

The switch to high speed standby in the receive section is shown in FIG.22. The DS-3 Interface is switched to couple the Line 1 high speed inputto the standby path. The Line 1 Low Speed Receive Common modules andIntermediate Speed Receive Interface modules are switched to read thedata coming to them from the standby High Speed Receive Common module.In order to provide for monitoring the failed Line 1 high speed section,the low/intermediate speed standby units are switched to read the outputof the latter section at their main inputs.

If there is a switch to low/intermediate speed standby after a previousswitch to high speed standby, the control is as illustrated in FIG. 23.The LBO/Switch module of the failed low/intermediate speed group isswitched onto standby. The output of the low/intermediate speed standbyunits are switched to go to the standby inputs 172 and 174 of thestandby High Speed Transmit Interface. The High Speed Transmit Interfaceis switched to read its standby input in place of the main input for thefailed low/intermediate speed group.

FIG. 24 illustrates the control required for a switch to high speedstandby after a previous switch to low/intermediate speed standby in thetransmit section. The Low Speed Transmit Common modules and IntermediateSpeed Transmit Interface modules of the affected line are switched tostandby, thereby sending data to the main input of the standby HighSpeed Transmit Interface. The outputs of the low/intermediate speedstandby units are switched to the standby inputs 172 and 174 of thestandby High Speed Transmit Interface. The standby High Speed TransmitInterface must be commanded to read one of these standby inputs in theplace of the main input for the failed group. The standby DS-3 Interfaceis switched to send the high speed standby output out of Line 1, whilethe Line 1 DS-3 Interface is switched off.

    ______________________________________                                        Sequence 19 - LS/IS Alarm Updating                                            ______________________________________                                        19.0 Enter                                                                    19.1 Is there a new alarm?                                                         No - Go to 19.3                                                               Yes - Go to 19.2                                                         19.2 Store and Display the Alarm                                              19.3 Auto Revert or Manual Selected?                                               Auto - Go to 19.4                                                             Manual - Go to 19.5                                                      19.4 Is there a request for review of stored alarms?                               No - Return                                                                   Yes - Go to 19.5                                                         19.5 Display the next alarm in the sequence of stored alarms.                 19.6 Is the display alarm a current one?                                           Yes - Return                                                                  No - Go to 19.7                                                          19.7 Clear storage of this alarm and                                               Return                                                                   ______________________________________                                    

Each low/intermediate speed alarm is stored, and the most recent alarmis displayed (Step 19.2). There is the capability to review the storedalarms by making a push-button request (Step 19.4). If a stored alarm isdisplayed by this review request, then the alarm is cleared out ofstorage.

The system may operate in the auto-revert mode in which traffic isautomatically switched back to a unit which failed but has becomefunctional again. Alternatively, in the manual restore mode not onlymust the failed unit become functional again, but manual permission mustbe given to restore. It is a consequence of the Sequence 19 that oldalarms are continually cleared from storage when operating in the manualrestore mode. As a result, a unit could fail, then become functionalagain, with the alarm indication being cleared from storage. However,since the data path would remain switched to standby in the manualrestore mode, it would be possible to determine the failure conditionwhich had caused the switch.

In the auto-revert mode, the review (Step 19.5) and clearing fromstorage (Step 19.7) of alarm conditions can only take place upon userrequest. Therefore, if a unit has failed, then become functional againand switched back into service automatically, the attendant alarms willremain stored until read out by an operator. Thus, the storage ordisplay of the alarms is latched, despite the automatic restoring of thepath.

    ______________________________________                                        Sequence 20 - Detecting Partially Equipped Low Speed Groups                   ______________________________________                                        20.0 Enter after all zeroes detected on long bit-error-rate test of                selected line, group and channel                                         20.1 Perform short bit-error-rate test on the rest of the equipped                 groups                                                                   20.2 Where all zeroes detected on all equipped groups?                             No - Go to 20.4                                                               Yes - Go to 20.3                                                         20.3 Declare Monitor Failure and exit                                         20.4 Perform bit-error-rate test of the selected line, group and                   channel, for both RCV and XMT                                            20.5 Were all zeroes detected for both RCV and XMT?                                No - Go to 20.6                                                               Yes - Go to 20.7                                                         20.6 Channel is equipped. Declare loss of Data, i.e., loss of                      receive output or loss of transmit input (identified as                       "line to transmit" failure) and                                               Return                                                                   20.7 Flag the selected channel not equipped and                                    Return                                                                   ______________________________________                                    

The monitor can tell whether a group is equipped by reading its identitybits, but this does not tell it whether specific channels in a low speedgroup might be unequipped. This determination is made in Sequence 20,particularly at step 20.4, where the monitor performs the bit-error-ratetest on the channel in question, for both receive and transmit sections.If the data comparator 880 registers all zeroes detected on both receiveand transmit, then it is considered that the channel is unequipped, andit is thus flagged. If all zeroes should be detected on transmit orreceive, but not both, then a loss of data is declared.

A slightly different way of looking at this test is as follows. When themonitor is performing a transmit test on a selected channel anddiscovers all zeroes at the transmit input, then it must decide whetherto declare a problem external to the muldem, namely, a loss of transmitinput data. It first checks to see if the muldem is receiving input onthe high speed line to the receive section, for this channel. In aconventional telecommunications system a channel would be equipped forreceive, if it were equipped for transmit, and vice versa. Further a T1line will presumably always have some bit activity on it.

Accordingly, if there is no data coming to the selected channel in thedemultiplexer, the monitor will decide that the channel is unequipped.Otherwise, a loss of transmit data will be declared.

If it is a receive test that the monitor is first performing and detectsall zeroes, it checks the input to the transmit section, beforedeclaring a loss of receive data.

The data comparator has a zero counter 974 on the high speed Data A sideand a zero counter 976 on the low/intermediate speed Data B side. If achannel is unequipped, the all zeroes condition can be detected at bothcounters, on both transmit and receive. If all zeroes are detected, say,in the transmit output for a selected channel, while the transmit inputis not all zeroes this is interpreted differently, as a failure of thechannel internal to the muldem.

If the data comparator detects all zeroes input to transmit section orto the receive section for an intermediate speed, which is known to beequipped from the identity bits, then a loss of data, transmit orreceive as appropriate, can be declared without further investigation.

    ______________________________________                                        Sequence 21 - Receive Test of Off-Line Main High Speed Unit                   ______________________________________                                        21.0 Enter and Set Up Path to be Monitored (Seq. 6)                           21.1 Is off-line HS RCV in Sync?                                                   Yes - Go to 21.5                                                              No - Go to 21.2                                                          21.2 Is High Speed Monitor Demultiplexer in Sync?                                  No - Go to 21.4                                                               Yes - Go to 21.3                                                         21.3 (Internal Problem) Declare off-line HS RCV failure and                        Return                                                                   21.4 (External Problem) Declare Failure of Receive Input to                        Muldem (Line to Receive failure) and                                          Return                                                                   21.5 Is High Speed Monitor Demultiplexer in Sync?                                  Yes - Go to 21.7                                                              No - Go to 21.6                                                          21.6 Perform Monitor Test and                                                      Return                                                                   21.7 Perform Short Bit-Error-Rate Test                                        21.8 Results?                                                                      Pass - Return                                                                 Fail - Go to 21.9                                                        21.9 Perform Long Bit-Error-Rate Test                                         21.10                                                                              Results?                                                                      Pass - Return                                                                 Fail - Go to 21.11                                                       21.11                                                                              On-line HS RCV in Sync                                                        No - Go to 21.2                                                               Yes - Go to 21.12                                                        21.12                                                                              Is HS Monitor Demultiplexer in Sync?                                          No - Go to 21.6                                                               Yes - Go to 21.13                                                        21.13                                                                              Connect the selected group data through standby LS/IS                         from on-line HS RCV (Line 0, 1 or 2)                                     21.14                                                                              Perform Short Bit-Error-Rate Test                                        21.15                                                                              Results of Test                                                               Fail - Go to 21.17                                                            Pass - Go to 21.16                                                       21.16                                                                              Declare off-line HS RCV failure and                                           Return                                                                   21.17                                                                              Perform Long Bit-Error-Rate Test                                         21.18                                                                              Results of Test                                                               Pass - Go to 21.16                                                            Fail - Go to 21.19                                                       21.19                                                                              Declare Standby LS/IS RCV failure and                                         Return                                                                   ______________________________________                                    

Sequence 21 is used to perform off-line monitoring of the Line 1 or Line2 high speed data path, after a switch to high speed standby from thatpath. The sequence of steps is similar to Sequence 12. The configurationof the test is shown in FIG. 22. The output of the failed Line 1 HighSpeed Receive Common module is connected to the low/intermediate speedstandby unit for testing purposes. In the example, the test path isshown as using the low speed standby module. The input to the test pathis at the Line 1 receive monitor point, while the output is taken fromthe low speed LBO/Switch by means of the Line 1 monitor bus.

CONCLUSION

The muldem of the invention, as described in terms of the preferredembodiment, displays important advantages and a number of usefulfeatures. In equipping the data groups of the muldem, low speed andintermediate speed circuits can be intermingled and, indeed, can beinterchanged. Groups can be left unequipped, and channels within a lowspeed group can be left unequipped. No special changes need be made tothe system when adding or removing equipment for data groups. Circuitscan be added or removed, while the muldem is in operation, resulting inno disruption of ongoing data traffic through the muldem. The monitor ofthe system senses the addition or removal of groups and takes this intoaccount in its testing.

Diagnostic decisions by the monitor based on majority voting amongequipped groups permit the decisions to be independent of the particularuser configuration employed. The monitoring system of the muldem,including its comparator means, is able to test the operation of a lowspeed or intermediate speed circuit for any of the data groups of themuldem.

The monitor tests the data paths in a particular sequence whichincrements the high speed line number most frequently, therebyminimizing the time required to detect a failure in the high speed unitof a line, which failure would affect a number of data groups at once.The error rate threshold used as a pass/fail criterion in testing by themonitor is selectable by the muldem user. The threshold is implementedfirst and most often in a test over a short sampling interval. If errorsin a data path exceed the threshold in the short test, the path is thentested over a longer sampling interval for improved statisticalsignificance. A path which has failed and not yet been restored, issubjected to a higher threshold than an unfailed path, in order toprevent a marginal unit from switching in and out frequently.

The muldem has the capability of identifying some classes of failures asbeing external to itself rather than a failure of the muldem equipment.In addition, under certain conditions, the monitor tests itself byexamining the results of its testing of a variety of paths and furtherby the injection of known errors into its comparator. In a useful manualmode, the monitor can be set on a selected signal path, testing itrepeatedly. In another important manual mode, a selected section of themuldem can be locked out, that is, prevented from switching to standby.

When a failure is detected in the muldem of the invention, protectiveswitching is initiated to a low or intermediate speed standby circuit orindependently to a high speed circuit, as appropriate. The systemdisplays the failure condition and can continue to do so even if itautomatically switches back from standby to the main path. The monitornot only tests the on-line data paths, but also the off-line paths.Thus, before protective switching to standby, it tests the standby pathsto ensure against an undetected silent failure. After protectiveswitching, it continues to test off-line paths in order to determinewhen a failed circuit has returned to proper operation.

We claim:
 1. A multiplexer comprising in combination:a plurality ofparallel data input groups; transmission means multiplexing said datainput groups for serial transmission of high speed data; meansautomatically adjusting to expansion and contraction of input data whilesaid multiplexer is in operation by enabling addition or removal of datainput groups up to the capability of said transmission means withoutdisturbing or interrupting data traffic through said multiplexer.
 2. Theinvention according to claim 1 further comprising monitor means testingdata paths through said multiplexer for detection of malfunctions insaid multiplexer, and including means automatically adjusting to testdata paths through added input groups and to ignore data paths throughremoved input groups.
 3. A multiplexer combining a plurality of paralleldata paths carrying different data rates LS and IS, where IS is greaterthan LS, for serial transmission of data at a yet higher rate HS,comprising in combination:a plurality of available data input groups; aplurality of available data input channels for each group; eachavailable group being equipable with either LS transmit means or IStransmit means; said LS transmit means multiplexing LS rate data on oneor more respective channels for serial transmission of IS rate data overits respective group; said IS transmit means serially receiving andtransmitting IS rate data over its respective group; HS transmit meansmultiplexing IS rate data from equipped groups for serial transmissionof HS rate data; standby data protective switching means providing analternate standby data path through said multiplexer; and group sensormeans sensing unequipped groups and preventing switching to said standbydata path from an unequipped group.
 4. The multiplexer of claim 3,further including means for sensing a lack of data activity at the inputof a selected data group, thereby detecting a loss of input, if theselected group is equipped.
 5. The invention according to claim 3further comprising monitor means testing data paths through saidmultiplexer for detection of malfunctions in said multiplexer, andincluding channel sensor means sensing lack of data activity on one ormore respective channels thereby to provide for detecting loss of dataor the presence of an unequipped channel.
 6. A multiplexer combining aplurality of parallel data paths carrying different data rates LS andIS, where IS is greater than LS, for serial transmission of data at ayet higher rate HS, comprising in combination:a plurality of paralleldata input groups; a plurality of available data input channels for eachgroup; each group being equipable with either LS transmit means or IStransmit means; said LS transmit means multiplexing LS rate data on oneor more respective channels for serial transmission of IS rate data overits respective group; said IS transmit means serially receiving andtransmitting IS rate data over its respective group; HS transmit meansmultiplexing IS rate data from equipped groups for serial transmissionof HS rate data; and monitor means testing data paths through saidmultiplexer for detection of malfunctions in said multiplexer, andincluding channel sensor means sensing lack of data activity on one ormore channels thereby to provide for detecting loss of data or thepresence of an unequipped channel.
 7. A multiplexer combining aplurality of parallel data input paths carrying different data rates LSand IS, where IS is greater than LS, for serial transmission of data ata yet higher rate HS, comprising:N data input lines; a plurality ofparallel data input groups for each said line; a plurality of paralleldata input channels for each said group; each said group receivingeither LS rate data in parallel form through said channels or IS ratedata in serial form; normally on-line LS transmit means for each groupwhich receives LS rate data, said LS transmit means multiplexing LS ratedata on said channels and serially transmitting IS rate data on itsrespective group; normally on-line IS transmit means for each groupwhich receives IS rate data, said IS transmit means serially receivingand transmitting IS rate data on its respective group; N normallyon-line HS transmit means, each multiplexing parallel IS rate data froma respective plurality of said groups and serially transmitting HS ratedata; N data output lines, each serially carrying HS rate data from arespective HS transmit means; standby data protective switching meansproviding standby alternate data paths through said multiplexer,comprising:normally off-line standby LS transmit means having an inputin parallel with said plurality of parallel data input groups of each ofsaid N data input lines; normally off-line standby IS transmit meanshaving an input in parallel with said plurality of parallel data inputgroups of each of said N data input lines; and normally off-line standbyHS transmit means having an output in parallel with the outputs of saidN normally on-line HS transmit means; monitor means testing data pathsthrough said multiplexer for detection of malfunctions in saidmultiplexer; means automatically adjusting to expansion and contractionof input data while said multiplexer is in operation by enablingaddition or removal of data input groups by adding or removing LS and IStransmit means up to the capability of said HS transmit means withoutdisturbing or interrupting data traffic through said multiplexer; meansautomatically adjusting to test data paths through added data inputgroups and to ignore data paths through removed data input groups; groupsensor means sensing groups unequipped with either LS or IS transmitmeans and preventing switching to said standby data path from anunequipped group; channel sensor means sensing lack of data activity onone or more respective channels; said monitor means detectingmalfunctions by majority voting of data path failures, whereby tofacilitate said expansion and contraction while said multiplexer is inoperation.
 8. A demultiplexer comprising in combination:a plurality ofparallel data output groups; receiver means demultiplexing serial highspeed data for parallel transmission of data on said groups; meansautomatically adjusting to expansion and contraction of output datawhile said demultiplexer is in operation by enabling addition or removalof data output groups up to the capability of said receiver meanswithout disturbing or interrupting data traffic through saiddemultiplexer.
 9. The invention according to claim 8 further comprisingmonitor means testing data paths through said demultiplexer fordetection of malfunctions in said demultiplexer, and including meansautomatically adjusting to test data paths through added output groupsand to ignore data paths through removed data output groups.
 10. Ademultiplexer delivering a plurality of parallel data paths carryingdifferent data rates LS and IS, where IS is greater than LS, from serialinput data at a yet higher rate HS, comprising in combination:HSreceiver means demultiplexing serial HS rate data for paralleltransmission of IS rate data; a plurality of available data outputgroups receiving said parallel IS rate data from said HS receiver means;a plurality of available data output channels for each said group; eachavailable group being equippable with either LS receiver means or ISreceiver means; said LS receiver means demultiplexing IS rate data onits respective group from said HS receiver means for paralleltransmission of LS rate data on one or more respective channels of itsrespective group; said IS receiver means serially receiving IS rate dataon its respective group from said HS receiver means and seriallytransmitting IS rate data over its respective group; standby dataprotective switching means providing an alternate standby data paththrough said demultiplexer; and group sensor means sensing unequippedgroups and preventing switching to said standby data path from anunequipped group.
 11. The demultiplexer of claim 10, further includingmeans for sensing a lack of data activity into and out of a selecteddata group.
 12. The invention according to claim 10 further comprisingmonitor means testing data paths through said demultiplexer fordetection of malfunctions in said demultiplexer, and including channelsensor means sensing lack of data activity on one or more respectivechannels thereby to provide for detecting loss of data or the presenceof an unequipped channel.
 13. A demultiplexer delivering a plurality ofparallel data paths carrying different data rates LS and IS, where IS isgreater than LS, from serial input data of a higher rate HS, comprisingin combination:a plurality of parallel data output groups; a pluralityof available data output channels for each said group; each group beingequippable with either LS receiver means or IS receiver means; said LSreceiver means demultiplexing IS rate data on its respective group forparallel transmission of LS rate data over one or more respectivechannels; said IS receiver means serially receiving and transmitting ISrate data over its respective group; HS receiver means demultiplexing HSrate data for parallel transmission of IS rate data to equipped groups;and monitor means testing data paths through said demultiplexer fordetection of malfunctions in said demultiplexer, and including channelsensor means sensing lack of data activity on one or more channelsthereby to provide for detecting loss of data or the presence of anunequipped channel.
 14. A demultiplexer delivering a plurality ofparallel data output paths carrying different data rates LS and IS,where IS is greater than LS, from serial input data of higher rate HS,comprising in combination:N data output lines; a plurality of paralleldata output groups for each said line; a plurality of parallel dataoutput channels for each said group; each said group transmitting eitherLS rate data in parallel form through said channels or IS rate data inserial form; normally on-line LS receiver means for each group whichtransmits LS rate data, said LS receiver means demultiplexing IS ratedata for parallel transmission of LS rate data on said channels in itsrespective group; normally on-line IS receiver means for each groupwhich transmits IS rate data, said IS receiver means serially receivingand transmitting IS rate data on its respective group; N normallyon-line HS receiver means, each demultiplexing serial HS rate data forparallel transmission of IS rate data to a respective plurality of saidgroups; N data input lines, each serially carrying HS rate data to arespective HS receiver means; standby data protective switching meansproviding standby alternate data paths through said demultiplexer,comprising:normally off-line standby LS receiver means having an outputin parallel with said plurality of parallel data output groups of eachof said N data output lines; normally off-line standby IS receiver meanshaving an output in parallel with said plurality of parallel data outputgroups of each of said N data output lines; and normally off-linestandby HS receiver means having an input in parallel with the inputs ofsaid N normally on-line HS receiver means; monitor means testing datapaths through said demultiplexer for detection of malfunctions in saiddemultiplexer; means automatically adjusting to expansion andcontraction of output data while said demultiplexer is in operation byenabling addition or removal of data output groups by adding or removingLS and IS receiver means up to the capability of said HS receiver meanswithout disturbing or interrupting data traffic through saiddemultiplexer; means automatically adjusting to test data paths throughadded data output groups and to ignore data paths through removed dataoutput groups; group sensor means sensing groups unequipped with LS orIS receiver means and preventing switching to said standby data pathfrom an unequipped group; channel sensor means sensing lack of dataactivity in one or more respective channels; said monitor meansdetecting malfunctions by majority voting of data path failures, wherebyto facilitate said expansion and contraction while said demultiplexer isin operation.
 15. A muldem comprising in combination:a plurality ofparallel data input groups; transmission means multiplexing said datainput groups for serial transmission of high speed data; a plurality ofparallel data output groups; receiver means demultiplexing high speeddata for parallel transmission to said output groups; meansautomatically adjusting to expansion and contraction of input and outputdata while said muldem is in operation by enabling addition or removalof data input groups and data output groups up to the capability of saidtransmission means and receiver means, respectively, without disturbingor interrupting data traffic through said muldem.
 16. The inventionaccording to claim 15 further comprising monitor means testing datapaths through said muldem for detection of malfunctions in said muldem,and including means automatically adjusting to test data paths throughadded input and output groups and to ignore data paths through removedinput and output groups.
 17. A muldem combining a plurality of paralleldata paths carrying different data rates LS and IS, where IS is greaterthan LS, for serial transmission of data at a yet higher rate HS, anddelivering a plurality of parallel data paths carrying different datarates LS and IS from serial input data at rate HS, comprising incombination:a plurality of available data input groups; a plurality ofavailable data output groups; a plurality of available data inputchannels for each said input group; a plurality of available data outputchannels for each said output group; each available input group beingequippable with either LS transmit means or IS transmit means; eachavailable output group being equippable with either LS receiver means orIS receiver means; said LS transmit means multiplexing LS rate data onone or more respective input channels for serial transmission of IS ratedata over its respective input group; said IS transmit means seriallyreceiving and transmitting IS rate data over its respective input group;said LS receiver means demultiplexing IS rate data for paralleltransmission of LS rate data on one or more respective output channelsover its respective output group; said IS receiver means seriallyreceiving and transmitting IS rate data over its respective outputgroup; HS transmit means multiplexing IS rate data from equipped inputgroups for serial transmission of HS rate data; HS receiver meansdemultiplexing HS rate data for parallel transmission of IS rate data toequipped output groups; standby data path protective switching meansproviding alternate standby data paths through said muldem; and groupsensor means sensing unequipped input and output groups and preventingswitching to a standby data path from an unequipped input or outputgroup.
 18. The muldem of claim 17 further including means for sensinglack of data activity into and out of a selected one of the data groups,thereby detecting a loss of input, if the selected group is equipped.19. The invention according to claim 17 further comprising monitor meanstesting data paths through said muldem for detection of malfunctions insaid muldem, and including channel sensor means detectingthat a selectedchannel is unequipped by sensing lack of data activity at the input tothe input channel thereof and at the output of the output channelthereof and preventing a malfunction indication by said monitor means, aloss of data on a selected channel by sensing lack of data activity atthe input of the input channel thereof but not lack of data activity atthe output of the output channel thereof, whereby to allow the use ofany number of input channels in an input group up to the capacity ofsaid LS transmit means and any number of output channels in an outputgroup up to the capacity of said LS receiver means without falselycausing a malfunction detection by said monitor means.
 20. A muldemcombining a plurality of parallel data paths carrying different datarates LS and IS, where IS is greater than LS, for serial transmission ofdata at a yet higher rate HS, and delivering a plurality of paralleldata paths carrying different data rates LS and IS from serial inputdata at rate HS, comprising in combination:a plurality of parallel datainput groups; a plurality of parallel data output groups; a plurality ofavailable data input channels for each input group; a plurality ofavailable data output channels for each output group; each input groupbeing equippable with either LS transmit means or IS transmit means;each output group being equippable with either LS receiver means or ISreceiver means; said LS transmit means multiplexing LS rate data on oneor more respective input channels for serial transmission of IS ratedata over its respective input group; said IS transmit means seriallyreceiving and transmitting IS rate data over its respective input group;said LS receiver means demultiplexing IS rate data for paralleltransmission of LS rate data on one or more respective output channelsover its respective output group; said IS receiver means seriallyreceiving and transmitting IS rate data over its respective outputgroup; HS transmit means multiplexing IS rate data from equipped inputgroups for serial transmission of HS rate data; HS receiver meansdemultiplexing HS rate data for parallel tranmission of IS rate data toequipped output groups; and monitor means testing data paths throughsaid muldem for detection of malfunctions in said muldem, and includingchannel sensor means detecting partially equipped input and outputgroups by sensing lack of data activity on one or more input and outputchannels and preventing a malfunction detection to be caused thereby insaid monitor means.
 21. A muldem combining a plurality of parallel datainput paths carrying different data rates LS and IS, where IS is greaterthan LS, for serial transmission of data at a higher rate HS, anddelivering a plurality of parallel data output paths carrying differentdata rates LS and IS from serial input data at rate HS, comprising incombination:N data input transmission lines; N data output receptionlines; a plurality of parallel data input transmission groups for eachsaid input transmission line; a plurality of parallel data outputreception groups for each said output reception line; a plurality ofparallel data input transmission channels for each said inputtransmission group; a plurality of parallel data output receptionchannels for each said output reception group; each said inputtransmission group receiving either LS rate data in parallel formthrough said input transmission channels or IS rate data in serial form;each said output reception group transmitting either LS rate data inparallel form through said output reception channels or IS rate data inserial form; normally on-line LS transmit means for each transmissioninput group which receives LS rate data, said LS transmit meansmultiplexing LS rate data on said input transmission channels andserially transmitting IS rate data on its respective input transmissiongroup; normally on-line IS transmit means for each input transmissiongroup which receives IS rate data, said IS transmit means seriallyreceiving and transmitting IS rate data on its respective inputtransmission group; normally on-line LS receiver means for each outputreception group which transmits LS rate data, said LS receiver meansdemultiplexing IS rate data for parallel transmission of LS rate data onsaid output reception channels in its respective output reception group;normally on-line IS receiver means for each output reception group whichtransmits IS rate data, said IS receiver means serially receiving andtransmitting IS rate data on its respective output reception group; Nnormally on-line HS transmit means, each multiplexing parallel IS ratedata from a respective plurality of said input transmission groups andserially transmitting HS rate data; N normally on-line HS receivermeans, each demultiplexing HS rate data for parallel transmission of ISrate data to a respective plurality of said output reception groups; Ndata output transmission lines, each serially carrying HS rate data froma respective HS transmit means; N data input reception lines, eachserially carrying HS rate data to a respective HS receiver means;standby data protective switching means providing standby alternate datapaths through said muldem, comprising:normally off-line standby LStransmit means having an input in parallel with said plurality ofparallel data input transmission groups of each of said N data inputtransmission lines; normally off-line standby IS transmit means havingan input in parallel with said plurality of parallel data inputtransmission groups of each of said N data input transmission lines;normally off-line standby LS receiver means having an output in parallelwith said plurality of parallel data output reception groups of each ofsaid N data output reception lines; normally off-line standby ISreceiver means having an output in parallel with said plurality ofparallel data output reception groups of each of N data output receptionlines; normally off-line standby HS transmit means having an output inparallel with the outputs of said N normally on-line HS transmit means;and normally off-line standby HS receiver means having an input inparallel with the inputs of said N normally on-line HS receiver means;monitor means testing data paths through said muldem for detection ofmalfunctions in said muldem; means automatically adjusting to expansionand contraction of input transmission data and output reception datawhile said muldem is in operation by enabling addition or removal ofdata input transmission groups and data output reception groups byadding or removing LS and IS transmit and receiver means up to thecapability of said HS transmit and receiver means, respectively, withoutdisturbing or interrupting data traffic through said muldem; meansautomatically adjusting to test data paths through added data inputtransmission groups and added data output reception groups and to ignoredata paths through removed data input transmission groups and removeddata output reception groups; group sensor means sensing inputtransmission groups unequipped with LS or IS transmit means and outputreception groups unequipped with LS or IS receiver means and preventingswitching to a standby data path from an unequipped input transmissiongroup or unequipped output reception group; channel sensor meansdetecting partially equipped input transmission groups and outputreception groups by sensing lack of data activity on one or morerespective input transmission channels and output reception channels andpreventing a malfunction detection in be caused thereby in said monitormeans; said monitor means detecting malfunctions by majority voting ofdata path failures, whereby to facilitate said expansion and contractionwhile said muldem is in operation.
 22. A muldem combining a plurality ofparallel data input paths carrying different data rates LS and IS, whereIS is greater than LS, for serial transmission of data at a higher rateHS, and delivering a plurality of parallel data output paths carryingdifferent data rates LS and IS from serial input data at rate HS,comprising in combination:N data input transmission lines; N data outputreception lines; a plurality of parallel data input transmission groupsfor each said input transmission line; a plurality of parallel dataoutput reception groups for each said output reception line; a pluralityof parallel data input transmission channels for each said inputtransmission group; a plurality of parallel data output receptionchannels for each said output reception group; each said inputtransmission group receiving either LS rate data in parallel formthrough said input transmission channels or IS rate data in serial form;each said output reception group transmitting either LS rate data inparallel form through said output reception channels or IS rate data inserial form; normally on-line LS transmit means for each transmissioninput group which receives LS rate data, said LS transmit meansmultiplexing LS rate data on said input transmission channels andserially transmitting IS rate data on its respective input transmissiongroup; normally on-line IS transmit means for each input transmissiongroup which receives IS rate data, said IS transmit means seriallyreceiving and transmitting IS rate data on its respective inputtransmission group; normally on-line LS receiver means for each outputreception group which transmits LS rate data, said LS receiver meansdemultiplexing IS rate data for parallel transmission of LS rate data onsaid output reception channels in its respective output reception group;normally on-line IS receiver means for each output reception group whichtransmits IS rate data, said IS receiver means serially receiving andtransmitting IS rate data on its respective output reception group; Nnormally on-line HS transmit means, each multiplexing parallel IS ratedata from a respective plurality of said input transmission groups andserially transmitting HS rate data; N normally on-line HS receivermeans, each demultiplexing HS rate data for parallel transmission of ISrate data to a respective plurality of said output reception groups; Ndata output transmission lines, each serially carrying HS rate data froma respective HS transmit means; N data input reception lines, eachserially carrying HS rate data to a respective HS receiver means;standby data protective switching means providing standby alternate datapaths through said muldem, comprising:normally off-line standby LStransmit means having an input in parallel with said plurality ofparallel data input transmission groups of each of said N data inputtransmission lines; normally off-line standby IS transmit means havingan input in parallel with said plurality of parallel data inputtransmission groups of each of said N data input transmission lines;normally off-line standby LS receiver means having an output in parallelwith said plurality of parallel data output reception groups of each ofsaid N data output reception lines; normally off-line standby ISreceiver means having an output in parallel with said plurality ofparallel data output reception groups of each of N data output receptionlines; normally off-line standby HS transmit means having an output inparallel with the outputs of said N normally on-line HS transmit means;and normally off-line standby HS receiver means having an input inparallel with the inputs of said N normally on-line HS receiver means;monitor means testing data paths through said muldem for detection ofmalfunctions in said muldem, said monitor means including means forlocating the source of a malfunction.
 23. The muldem of claim 22,whereinthe monitor means includes a high speed demultiplexer whichincludes a monitor HS receiver means, each of said HS receiver meansincludes means for synchronizing data at the input thereof or indicatingfailure to synchronize, said monitor means includes means fordetermining when a selected one of the normally on-line HS receivers orsaid standby HS receiver fails to synchronize, and detecting: a failureexternal to the muldem, if the monitor receiver also fails tosynchronize, and a failure internal to the muldem, if the monitorreceiver does not also fail to synchronize.
 24. The muldem of claim 22,wherein said monitor means includes:means for detecting a fail conditionon a data path including a selected one of said normally on-line HStransmit means and a LS or IS transmit means selected from the set oftransmit means from which the selected HS transmit means multiplexesdata; means, upon the detecting of said fail condition for performing aselected test on all of the equipped transmit means in said set andcounting the number of failures and the number of passes of the selectedtest and determiningthat there is probably a malfunction in the selectedHS transmit means, if the number of failures is greater than the numberof passes, and that there is probably a malfunction in said originallyselected LS or IS transmit means, if the number of failures is notgreater than the number of passes.
 25. The muldem of claim 22, whereinsaid monitor means includes:means for detecting a fail condition on adata path including a selected one of said normally on-line HS receivermeans and a LS or IS receiver means to which the selected HS receivermeans demultiplexes data; means, upon the detecting of said failcondition for performing a selected test on all of the equipped receivermeans in said set and counting the number of failures and the number ofpasses of the selected test and determiningthat there is probably amalfunction in the selected HS receiver means, if the number of failuresis greater than the number of passes, and that there is probably amalfunction in said originally selected LS or IS receiver means, if thenumber of failures is not greater than the number of passes.
 26. Themuldem of claim 22, wherein said monitor means includes:means forlocating a malfunction in a selected LS transmit means or its associatedtransmission channels, and means for performing a test on each of pluraldata paths, with each of said associated transmission channels beingincluded in a different one of the tested paths, and means for locatinga malfunction in the selected LS transmit means, if all the paths whichinclude one of said associated transmission channels fail the test. 27.The muldem of claim 22, wherein said monitor means includes:means forlocating a malfunction in a selected LS receiver means or its associatedreception channels, and means for performing a test on each of pluraldata paths, with each of said reception channels being included in adifferent one of the tested paths, and means for locating a malfunctionin the selected LS receiver means, if all the paths with include one ofsaid associated reception channels fail the test.
 28. The muldem ofclaim 22, wherein said monitor means includes:means for detecting thefailure of a test on a data path including transmit means for a selecteddata group, and means for performing the test on a path includingreceiver means for the selected group, and determining not to declare amalfunction of the monitor means, if the receiver means path passes thetest.
 29. The muldem of claim 22, wherein said monitor meansincludes:means for detecting the failure of a test on a data pathincluding receiver means for a selected data group, and means forperforming the test on a path including transmit means for the selectedgroup, and determining not to declare a malfunction of the monitormeans, if the transmit means path passes the test.
 30. The muldem ofclaim 22, wherein said monitor means includes:means for performing atest on a plurality of selected data paths, one for each of said HSreceiver means and each of said HS transmit means, and means fordetermining a malfunction in the monitor means, if the number of saidselected paths failing the test is greater than the number passing thetest.